Before LSU Fame, Livvy Dunne Revealed the Painful Injury That Ended Her Olympic Dream
Credit: @livvydunne on Instagram.
Credit: @livvydunne on Instagram.
While injuries are almost synonymous with athletes, the one gymnast Livvy Dunne faced directly put an end to her Olympic run.
The former LSU star competed with the Tigers for five years, showing an impressive skill set. But the Olympics were never one of her destinations due to a severe injury she suffered as a teenager.
“I was actually competing on a hurt ankle (at) the 2018 USA Championships,” she said in Stephanie McMahon's podcast in 2025. “And part of my ankle bone died… It was so painful. That was one of my first real injuries. I’ve actually never gotten any surgery, which is kind of crazy for a gymnast.”
January 31, 2025: LSU s Olivia Livvy Dunne is introduced to the crowd prior to NCAA, College League, USA Gymnastics action between the Missouri Tigers and the LSU Tigers at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center in Baton Rouge, LA. /CSM Baton Rouge USA - ZUMAc04_ 20250131_zma_c04_168 Copyright: xJonathanxMailhesx
January 31, 2025: LSU s Olivia Livvy Dunne is introduced to the crowd prior to NCAA, College League, USA Gymnastics action between the Missouri Tigers and the LSU Tigers at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center in Baton Rouge, LA. /CSM Baton Rouge USA - ZUMAc04_ 20250131_zma_c04_168 Copyright: xJonathanxMailhesx
The condition Dunne suffered was Osteochondritis dissecans (OCD). It is when a bone beneath the cartilage of a joint dies from improper blood flow, which can hinder joint motion. And her “Olympic dreams died with it.”
However, her achievements at LSU weren’t marred by this. She helped the Tigers win the 2024 NCAA title, earned Scholastic All-American honors herself, and became the highest-valued NIL women’s college athlete.
And while she stepped down from her illustrious gymnastics career, new doors were opening up for Livvy Dunne. And she was excited to try those opportunities.
Livvy Dunne’s Life Beyond Gymnastics
In a sport where Olympic and World Championship success measure a gymnast’s true value, Dunne always gravitated towards things that went beyond the threshold of gymnastics. And she expressed excitement about it.
“It’s so weird to think about not doing a sport anymore,” she said to NCAA Digital’s Michella Chester in 2025. “But I’m excited to say yes to all the opportunities that I couldn’t say yes to because of gymnastics.”
With a massive social media following, Dunne leaned towards entrepreneurship and countless endorsements. She has also recently kick-started her acting career in Fox’s Baywatch Reboot, set to premiere in late January 2027.
While her Olympic dream as a gymnast never came to fruition, Dunne proved how an athlete can expand themselves beyond the sport.
Are you excited for her future endeavors? Let us know in the comments.
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Written by
Deblina Roy