Olivia Paige Dunne, widely known as Livvy Dunne, was born on October 1, 2002, in Westwood, New Jersey, and grew up in Hillsdale. As of 2026, she is 24 years old. She rose to prominence as a junior elite gymnast before becoming a standout member of the Louisiana State University Tigers gymnastics team, where she contributed to the program's historic 2024 NCAA national championship win. Beyond her athletic achievements on the uneven bars and floor exercise, she became one of the most visible faces of the Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) era in college sports, building a massive digital audience across platforms like TikTok and Instagram.
Examining her path requires looking past generic headlines to understand how early specialization, rigorous club training at ENA Paramus, and a transition to NCAA competition shaped her career. While public interest often centers on her age, social media presence, and relationship with professional baseball player Paul Skenes, her trajectory offers a clear picture of how modern collegiate athletics intersects with digital media.
Early Life and Rise Through Junior Elite Gymnastics
Dunne stepped into a gym for the first time in 2005 at just three years old, starting her training at ENA Gymnastics in Paramus, New Jersey. By age five, she was competing on pre-teams, displaying the discipline and physical coordination required for elite artistic gymnastics.
Unlike many recreational athletes, Dunne entered the competitive junior pipeline early. In 2014, she made her debut in elite competitions, such as the American Classic. By 2015, she qualified for the U.S. National Championships, finishing 25th in the all-around as one of the youngest competitors in the field. Her progression accelerated in 2017 when she earned a spot on the U.S. Junior National Team after strong performances at the U.S. Classic in Chicago, where she medaled on the balance beam and floor exercise.
To manage the heavy training demands required of elite competitors, her mother homeschooled her starting at age fourteen. This flexibility allowed Dunne to balance multi-hour daily training sessions with her education, setting the stage for her collegiate commitment. In the spring of 2017, she verbally committed to attend Louisiana State University on a full athletic scholarship, cementing her future in the Southeastern Conference.
The LSU Era and NCAA Championship
Dunne officially joined the LSU Tigers gymnastics team in 2020 and made her collegiate debut during the 2021 season. Competing in the NCAA format presented a shift from individual elite gymnastics to team-focused scoring across four apparatuses: vault, uneven bars, balance beam, and floor exercise.
During her freshman season, she carved out a specialist role on the uneven bars, competing in every regular-season meet and posting a career-high National Qualifying Score (NQS) of 9.9 on the event. Her routine consistency and clean execution earned her a spot in the SEC postseason lineups, helping the Tigers secure top finishes.
Throughout her college career, injuries occasionally limited her all-around availability, but she remained a reliable contributor on bars and floor. Her defining team moment came in April 2024 at the NCAA Women's Gymnastics Championships in Fort Worth, Texas, where the LSU Tigers captured the first national team title in program history.
Following the NCAA's temporary eligibility extension for student-athletes impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, Dunne returned for a fifth year of eligibility during the 2024-2025 season. She competed in the first four meets before sustaining an avulsion fracture in her kneecap. On April 17, 2025, she officially announced her retirement from competitive gymnastics, closing a chapter that spanned two decades in the sport. You can read more about collegiate athletics on the NCAA Official Website.
Redefining College Athletics in the NIL Era
Dunne's impact on sports culture extends well beyond routine scores and championship medals. When the NCAA updated its policies in July 2021 to allow student-athletes to monetize their name, image, and likeness, Dunne was uniquely positioned. Long before the rule change, she had amassed a substantial following on TikTok and Instagram by sharing behind-the-scenes glimpses of elite training, travel, and college life.
Her massive digital audience turned her into a case study for student-athlete entrepreneurship. She secured high-profile brand partnerships with major companies, launched initiatives like the Livvy Fund to support female student-athletes at LSU, and was featured in mainstream publications including the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue. Her transition from college athlete to media personality was also highlighted in documentary projects such as Prime Video.
Frequently Asked Questions
How old is Livvy Dunne?
Livvy Dunne is 24 years old. She was born on October 1, 2002.
Is Livvy Dunne still competing in gymnastics?
No. After sustaining a knee injury during her fifth season with the LSU Tigers, she announced her retirement from competitive gymnastics in April 2025.
What college did Livvy Dunne attend?
She attended Louisiana State University (LSU), where she competed for the Tigers gymnastics team and majored in interdisciplinary studies.
What were her best gymnastics events?
During her time at LSU, Dunne specialized primarily in the uneven bars and the floor exercise, consistently posting high scores for the Tigers in those rotations.