"The way Olivia Dunne warms up, it's just automatic" - LSU head coach Jay Clark gives verdict on 22-year-old's influence on the team

LSU Tigers' head coach Jay Clark was all praise for star gymnast Olivia Dunne, who is representing the team for one last time at the NCAA Championships this year. The head coach was present at a conference ahead of the SEC contest against the team from the University of Florida, where he opened up on the influence of the 22-year-old gymnast within the team.

"You know, Liv [Dunne] provides a lot of confidence for us, the way she goes about her business, I know she would probably be disappointed with some of her scores, they weren't what she would like to have, I think of bars in particular," Clark mentioned. [20:11 onwards]

The coach further revealed how Dunne influences the team.

"The way she warms up, it's just automatic, like she, there's no doubt, she goes up cold, does a cold routine everytime and is fine, and there's value to that because what it does is it just calms everyone else and keeps everybody in a good place."

Olivia Dunne performed well against the Iowa State University during the SEC Championships' inaugural game on January 3, where she scored 9.825 on the balance beam and 9.875 on the floor exercise. The LSU Tigers will now compete against Florida State University on January 17.

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Olivia Dunne on her final year at the LSU and plans after final season

Olivia Dunne at the 2024 NCAA Championships [Image Source : Getty]

Olivia Dunne will be representing the Louisiana State University for the final time as a super senior at the NCAA Championships in 2025. She opened up about her aims and objectives for her final season, as well as her plans beyond 2025.

“The thing that made me want to come back for the fifth year is that I fell in love with the sport of gymnastics again last season, and I just wanted another opportunity to come back and win a National Championship with my team,” Dunne told in an interview with the LSU Tigers TV.

Dunne also explained how she would continue contributing to gymnastics even after leaving collegiate gymnastics. The 22-year-old mentioned:

“I don't think I'll ever be a gymnastics coach because I did try that before and I wasn't very good at it. But I think I'll do something in the NIL realm or something with LSU in the future, because I do love the school and I wouldn't be where I am today if it wasn't for them.”

Dunne is the founding member of ‘The Livvy Fund’, which assists female student-athletes in earning new opportunities through the NIL scheme. She also contributed in the victory of the LSU Tigers at the NCAA Gymnastics Championships held last year.