Goodbye to gymnast Olivia Dunne: she announces her retirement at the age of 22 with this touching video

Olivia Dunne, the LSU gymnastics star and social media phenomenon, has officially announced her retirement from gymnastics at just 22 years old.

The announcement came after LSU’s gymnastics team, reigning national champions in 2024, failed to advance past the NCAA semifinals last Thursday. Dunne, who missed the postseason due to an avulsion fracture in her kneecap sustained in March, confirmed the end of her competitive career in a post on X (formerly Twitter):

“✌️ [Peace] out gymnastics it’s been real… and of course forever LSU!” Dunne wrote.

However, it was through an emotional video shared on Instagram this Monday that Dunne truly marked her farewell, reflecting on her journey as an athlete.

Olivia Dunne: a trailblazer for NIL deals and Sports Illustrated star

Dunne has become one of the most financially successful athletes in collegiate sports under the NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness) program, which allows college athletes to monetize their personal brand. According to On3, Dunne’s net worth stands at approximately $9.5 million, largely driven by her strong social media following – 13 million followers combined, including 8 million on TikTok and 5.3 million on Instagram.

Speaking to Sports Illustrated Swimsuit in 2023 about her pioneering role in NIL, Dunne stated:

“I just want to show other girls that you can have it all. You can be a smart businesswoman, you can take advantage of NIL, and you can still be in college.”

Her rise to fame extended beyond the gym. Dunne featured in the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit editions of 2023 and 2024, gaining widespread recognition outside gymnastics. Reflecting on that, she explained:

“I can be an athlete, I can be strong, I can be beautiful, I can be confident and sexy – and sometimes people don’t really realize that.”

Olivia Dunne’s emotional farewell video

In her heartfelt retirement video, Dunne recounted her 20-year journey in gymnastics with a voiceover:

“Time flies when you’re having fun. Something said when you’re enjoying yourself to the point time seems to slip away from you. And that’s exactly how the past 20 years in this sport have felt.”

She expressed gratitude for the opportunities and lessons gymnastics gave her:

“Gymnastics, you have filled my heart forever and you will always be a part of me. You’ve made me the person I am today and created memories and bonds that will last a lifetime beyond this sport. You are my first love.”

She also took a moment to thank her family and coaches:

“To my family, especially my parents, thank you for everything. To my coaches back home in New Jersey and my coaches at LSU, thank you for pushing me to be great. I’ll cherish every memory, some a little less than others, but cherish them all the same.”

Dunne concluded:

“Thank you for everything gymnastics, you were so good to me.”

With her gymnastics career behind her, Dunne plans to focus on modeling, attend red carpet events, and support her boyfriend, MLB pitcher Paul Skenes. Reflecting on this next chapter, she shared with People:

“I’m going to have more freedom. I’ve been a competitive gymnast since I was three years old.”

Her retirement marks the end of an extraordinary athletic chapter while opening doors to new ventures in business and entertainment.

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