With 8 million followers on Tiktok and 5.4 million on Instagram, Olivia Dunne, nicknamed Livvy, is one of the most fashionable influencers of the moment. Back on the journey of this former American gymnast who stopped her career at 22 years old.
A career all mapped out. Wishing for a pink and sparkling leotard, little Olivia starts gymnastics at the age of three. The (very) young athlete born in the United States in New Jersey is actively embarking on this discipline and participates in the selections for the preliminary team of her ENA gymnasium two years later. “From my beginnings in competition, I knew that I was passionate about this sport” she declares on her personal website.
From gymnastics…
Olivia Dunne passes her levels with her eyes closed and competes in several competitions. At 10 years old, she enters the NIT (National Invitational Tournament, a substitution competition allowing a defined number of gymnasts ranked just behind the top 7 to compete nationally) and intends to qualify for the US Challenge, where she finishes second in the Hopes category. Subsequently, she became the youngest athlete to qualify as an International Junior Elite, before finishing eighth at the 2015 American Classic and then qualifying for the 2015 P&G National Championships. Nothing stops her. First place on the ground at the Bresteyn qualifications in Las Vegas, First place on the beam at the elite qualifications of KPAC (KPAC Elite Qualifier, a competition organized by the Kristie Phillips Athletic Center in North Carolina), medalist at the 2016 P&G Championships… Competition after competition, the athlete stands out for her technique and grace.
In 2017, at 15 years old, Olivia Dunne distinguished herself at the national level by finishing ninth overall at the US Junior National Championships. She represents the United States at the prestigious City of Jesolo Trophy in Italy, where she ranks sixth overall, contributing to the team victory. “In the fall of 2019, I signed my national letter of intent to join LSU [Louisiana State University] and receive a full athletic scholarship in gymnastics. I also started competing in level 10, winning first place at the overall competition of the Atlanta Centennial Classic in Georgia, the Classic Rock Invitational in Arizona, and the Elevate the Stage in Ohio,” explains the young woman on her website.
In 2020, Livvy Dunne contributes to the second place of LSU at the SEC (university sports conference) Championships thanks to her performances on asymmetric bars. In 2021-2022, she equals her personal best, with a score of 9.925 out of 10 on the bars and makes her floor debut with 9.800, consolidating her reputation as a versatile gymnast. After a period of injuries in 2022-2023, Olivia Dunne is coming back with a strong presence, actively participating in competitions and preparing the ground for the 2023–2024 season. That year, she played a key role in LSU’s historic victory at the national championship, achieving outstanding ratings on all aircraft. Livvy Dunne was even included in the prestigious Forbes 30 Under 30 list in the Sports category.
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But this prodigious journey stops abruptly in March 2025. The 22-year-old gymnast suffers an avulsion fracture of the kneecap, prematurely ending her season and university career. She officially retires on the following April 17.
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…on social networks
Livvy Dunne has established herself as one of the most followed university athletes on social networks. As of 2020, she publishes gymnastics videos, training routines and moments from her daily life on TikTok and Instagram, quickly attracting millions of followers. In 2023, she becomes the most followed university athlete on TikTok with more than 8 million subscribers and exceeds 13 million across all its platforms. Its digital presence allows it to sign sponsorship contracts with brands such as Grubhub, Vuori, Bodyarmor and American Eagle Outfitters. In July 2023, Olvia Dunne even reveals having received more than 500,000 dollars for a single online publication on social networks.
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Embodying an ultra-connected generation, she had even promoted artificial intelligences, qualifying them as a valuable aid in work, which had earned her several critics from her university. At the same time, Livvy embarks on modeling. The former gymnast with blonde hair appears in the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit in 2023 and 2024 and is chosen as one of the four cover models in 2025.
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In 2025, she launches ‘The Livvy Fund’, a program aimed at supporting female athletes in obtaining sponsorship contracts and developing their personal brand. She also explores opportunities on the screen and in the media, extending her influence beyond sports. Recently, the entrepreneur and content creator was named in the inaugural list TIME100 Creators, a ranking of the 100 most influential digital voices of the year.
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Featured photo : © DR
