Olivia Dunne's Injury Shaped Her Gymnastics Journey

Olivia 'Livvy' Dunne, former LSU gymnast and social media influencer, suffered a rare ankle injury called osteochondritis dissecans during the 2018 USA Championships at age 16, which ended her Olympic gymnastics ambitions. The injury caused part of her ankle bone to die due to lost blood flow, leading her to leave elite gymnastics. Forgoing surgery, Dunne focused on recovery and went on to excel at LSU, helping secure their first NCAA national championship in 2024. Persistent injuries, including a knee fracture, ultimately led to her retirement in April 2025. Dunne became one of the highest-paid NCAA athletes, leveraging NIL deals and her large social media presence. She now expresses gratitude for gymnastics and aims to support women in athletics, exemplifying both the challenges and new opportunities in college sports.