LSU’s former gymnast, Olivia Dunne, took a bold step when she decided to pursue acting this year. However, the 22-year-old recently revealed how her boyfriend, Paul Skenes, supported him unwaveringly in this move.

On May 11, Dunne appeared at the Fox Upfront presentation in New York, alongside co-actor Brooks Nader, to promote her debut project, Baywatch Reboot. While speaking to E! News amid the event, Dunne shared that the Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher fully supported her decision to join the project.

“Paul has been nothing but supportive of this,” Dunne said. “He has his jobs, and I have my jobs, so we both want to execute at our best ability no matter what it is.”

She explained that both she and Skenes share an understanding of the demand for each other's careers. This has helped them create a foundation of encouragement, where they push one another to achieve excellence in their respective fields.

Dunne added how they have fostered an environment where they acknowledge each other's distinct responsibilities and strive to excel in their respective arenas.

Olivia also admitted that the acting world was a totally unknown territory, and both her family and Skenes were unsure about what to expect in the beginning. However, she quickly adjusted to the environment, giving credit to the castmates for helping her adapt and grow in the process of filming.

She noted that during her transition, she was not rattled because her years of gymnastics training had helped her stay calm in high-pressure situations.

And Dunne also achieved a lot in those years of competing actively.

Olivia Dunne's legacy at LSU

Olivia Dunnes attended LSU in the fall of 2020 as an anticipated freshman for the 2021 season. Before that, she was trained at Eastern National Academy of Paramus. She was also a member of the USA Junior National Team in 2017, which had won a gold medal at the City of Jesolo Trophy competition in Italy.

In her Freshman year, she claimed WCGA All-American on uneven bars. Her career high in that year was 9.925 at Auburn. Dunne is a three-time winner of the SEC Academic Honour Roll. On the floor, her highest score was 9.90. In her last season, LSU won its first-ever NCAA 2024 National Championship title, marking a great end to her journey at LSU.

Olivia graduated with the highest honour, known as Summa Cum Laude. By finishing at the top of her class, she has proved that she has the ability to master a new craft and excel in that too, with the support of her partner and family.

However, with the Baywatch Reboot set to premiere in late January 2027, do you think Dunne will be equally successful in her acting career?

Follow Gymnastics Digest for more

Written by

Sebi Mehta

Edited by

Souvik Roy