Livvy Dunne bids farewell to gymnastics in emotional video after shock retirement decision

By ERIC BLUM

Livvy Dunne teared up near the end of a social-media video where she officially bid farewell to gymnastics after five years at LSU and 20 years of her life, using the sport to reach super stardom.

Dunne had long been expected to hang up her leotard once her eligibility with the Tigers ended. She had five seasons, instead of the traditional four, due to being in Baton Rogue during the coronavirus pandemic. 

Now Dunne will enter the real world with LSU’s season over. The sensation watched part of her video back, which made the final cut, from what appears to be the film room at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center. 

‘Time flies when you’re having fun,’ Dunne narrates in the video, with ‘What Was I Made For?’ by Billie Eilish playing in the background. ‘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.’

‘The highs, the lows, making the USA national team and competing for our country, every risk was worth the reward. Finishing my career over the past five years of the best university in the world has been an incredible journey, and I’m forever grateful.’

‘Gynnastics, you have filled my heart and shaped be a part of me. You’ve shaped me into the person I am today, creating memories and sisterhoods that will last a life support. You are my first love.

Livvy Dunne teared up near the end of a video where she officially bid farewell to gymnastics

Dunne had long been expected to hang up her leotard once her eligibility with the Tigers ended

‘To my family, especially my parents. Thank you for everything, for supporting me through it all, and to my childhood coaches from New Jersey and the LSU coaching staff, thank you for pushing me to be great. and yes, time did fly by, and I will cherish every memory for the rest of my life. Thank you for everything gymnastics. You were so good to me.’   

After the footage concluded inside the PMAC, Dunne was tearing up, knowing her athletic journey had reached its end.

Dunne became one of the faces of college sports during the NIL era as one of the top earners, regardless of gender. 

Dunne had an NIL evaluation of more than $4million, per On3Sports, which is more than double that of the current highest-earner, fellow LSU star Flau’jae Johnson. 

Now Dunne can start her professional career, expanding on the NIL deals she had not under the NCAA’s umbrella. 

Her next few months will likely see her follow boyfriend and Pittsburgh Pirates star, Paul Skenes around, as his sophomore MLB season continues.  

Olivia DunneBillie Eilish

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Livvy Dunne bids farewell to gymnastics in emotional video after shock retirement decision

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