Olivia Dunne, Aleah Finnegan, and other LSU gymnasts return as they attend their "last annual first day of school"

Olivia Dunne, Aleah Finnegan, and other gymnasts officially begin their final year at LSU this week. Although Dunne graduated from the university in May, she decided to continue her time at the LSU Tigers for a fifth year.

This past year, Dunne competed on bars and floor for the Tigers, appearing in nine meets. She earned her season-best score of 9.875 in her first routine of 2024 at the podium challenge at the Raising Cane's River Center.

LSU Gymnastics shared a video on social media, welcoming the gymnasts for their fifth and final year. Several gymnasts, including Dunne and several others, posed with certificates that read "first day of school" and a section that read "[w]hat I want to be when I grow up."

The caption read:

"Annual first day of school pics. Happy first day, Tigers!"

Dunne wrote on certificate "2x Natty Champion," for the latter section. She shared an Instagram story posing with her pet dog Roux and the certificate. She wrote:

"Last first day EVER!"

Olivia Dunne's Instagram story (Instagram@livvydunne)

---

When Olivia Dunne opened up about returning to LSU for her fifth year

Speaking earlier this year, Olivia Dunne talked about her decision to rejoin LSU for a fifth year in an interview. She shared her renewed love for the sport and her appreciation for the team.

Dunne said:

"This past year, I found a renewed love of the sport. I had trained a lot in the off-season, so I felt really strong and healthy from the start and ready to contribute.

"I really enjoyed the dynamic of the team this year and it all came together well. Winning the national championships was a great team accomplishment, but I feel like I have more to give as an individual competitor," she added (via SI.com).

She also added that she has changed a lot in the past four years:

"I’m a completely different person than I was four years ago. I’ve learned how to juggle so many responsibilities, how to chase big dreams, and how to stay calm in the face of difficult challenges."

Talking about the support she has, the gymnast said:

"I couldn’t do another year or even another day if I didn’t have the support that surrounds me from fans, family, friends, coaches, and so many others! Those people cheering me on every day is what gets me through the hard days and keeps me motivated to do more."

Dunne is now ready to commence her fifth year, looking to compete and focus more on individual games and wins.