How Olivia Dunne Became One of Gymnastics’ Biggest Endorsement Stars Without an Olympic Medal
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
In a sport that measures the athletes’ capabilities with Olympic medals and record books, former LSU gymnast Olivia Dunne reached the highest ceiling without making a single Olympic run.
Dunne’s success stemmed more from endorsements and business deals than from the mats. The NCAA's evolved NIL policies since July 2021 have helped the star capitalize on her name, image, and likeness.
"For women's athletics, there's not a lot of professional leagues after college," Dunne said, per ESPN’s Alyssa Roenigk. "So being a woman and being at the forefront of this NIL stuff means the world to me."
FOX 2026 Upfront Livvy Dunne attending the FOX 2026 Upfront held at New York City Center on May 11, 2026 in New York City, CA New York City New York City Center NY USA Copyright: xStevenxBergman/AFF-USA.COMx
FOX 2026 Upfront Livvy Dunne attending the FOX 2026 Upfront held at New York City Center on May 11, 2026 in New York City, CA New York City New York City Center NY USA Copyright: xStevenxBergman/AFF-USA.COMx
Being diagnosed with osteochondritis dissecans after sustaining an ankle injury as a teenager ended Dunne’s Olympic dream. But what she started for entertainment at 10, she grew her brand and social media following, which rose over 10M during her time at LSU.
Soon, she became the highest-paid college athlete with an NIL valuation estimated at $4.1 million as of early 2026. Currently, her net worth is estimated to be in the $6 million range, as per Celebrity Networth, making her one of gymnastics’ biggest endorsement stars.
The former gymnast is also carving a budding film career, with Fox's Baywatch reboot set to arrive in January 2027.
But as much as her fame carved a successful path for Dunne, this type of attention hasn’t always been positive.
A Moment When Fame Got in the Way of Olivia Dunne and LSU
Dunne has attained the type of stardom rarely seen in the NCAA, yet it comes with both pros and cons. One of these downsides became apparent in early January 2023, at LSU's sold-out season opener.
“Hundreds of fans, most of them teenage boys, disrupted the meet by screaming loudly for Dunne, who was out of the lineup because of injury,” wrote Roenigk, per ESPN. “That type of attention could be disruptive not only to her teammates' beam routines, but also to the team dynamic.”
NIL policies allowed student athletes to make a name and attain stability beyond the big leagues, which is quite essential in a sport like gymnastics. But even the best of things aren't without flaws.
Can you name another famous NIL athlete like Dunne? Let us know in the comments.
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Written by
Deblina Roy
Edited by
Sijo Paul