"I'm not done yet"- Olivia Dunne announces highly anticipated fifth-year return to LSU Gymnastics

American gymnast Olivia Dunne has announced she will return for her fifth and final year in collegiate sports, representing LSU Tigers in the 2024-25 season. Dunne was a part of the Louisiana State University gymnastics squad that became the NCAA champions in 2024. It was their first national title.

Dunne featured in nine meets in a remarkable 2024 for the LSU Tigers. She averaged 9.857 on floor exercise and 9.838 on uneven bars in the season.

The 21-year-old also registered a lifetime best performance of 9.900 on floor exercise during the podium challenge in March and matched it at the NCAA Fayetteville Regional in April. Her season-best performance of 9.875 in uneven bars came during the podium challenge.

Dunne took to Instagram to announce that she was coming back for a fifth year:

“Dear LSU, these past four years have changed my life. There is something about putting on a purple and gold leotard. There's something about competing in front of 13,000 screaming tiger fans.”

“There's something about being pushed by your coaches to be your very best. And there's something about being part of a team that made school history. And no matter how many opportunities come my way off the mat, there's just something about LSU. And that's why I'm here to say, I'm not done yet.”

In the video, one can view a compilation featuring Dunne in her LSU leotard, performing routines on various apparatuses, celebrating with her teammates after winning their NCAA Championship title, and other significant moments from previous years.

It is worth noting that not just Dunne but also her teammates including the 2024 NCAA all-around champion Haleigh Bryant, Sierra Ballard, Chase Brock, and Alyona Shchennikova, will be making their comeback for the fifth and final season. Notably, the NCAA granted student-athletes an additional year of eligibility due to the COVID-19 pandemic's impact on college students.

Olivia Dunne announces project Livvy Fund to give back to student-athletes and university

Olivia Dunne has created a solid brand in the last few years (IMAGE: GETTY)

Dunne is one of the highest-paid female collegiate athletes through NIL (Name, Image and Likeness) deals. She launched The Livvy Fund program in 2023, hoping to provide more opportunities to LSU college athletes through it.

Dunne spoke about the Livvy Fund in her post:

“As a female student-athlete, I have been fortunate enough to build a strong social media following and establish valuable brand partnerships that have launched my career in ways I couldn’t imagine.”

“I am excited to build on this momentum by leveraging my connections and sharing my knowledge in the NIL space to create more opportunities for LSU female-student athletes while emphasizing the importance of bringing NIL funds to women in college sports.”

Dunne has a large social media presence on platforms like Instagram and TikTok. She has worked on endorsement deals with top companies like Nautica, Vuori, Accelerator Active Energy and Purina, among others.