Olivia Dunne Once Warned That Clapping Back at Critics Could Derail Her NIL Success
May 12, 2025; New York City, New York, USA; LSU former gymnast Olivia Dunne on the field before a game between the New York Mets and the Pittsburgh Pirates at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images
May 12, 2025; New York City, New York, USA; LSU former gymnast Olivia Dunne on the field before a game between the New York Mets and the Pittsburgh Pirates at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images
Olivia Dunne is widely considered one of the most famous gymnasts since the advent of the much-heralded NIL era in 2021. The 23-year-old capitalized on the Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) policy as a college athlete with the LSU Tigers, attaining immense success.
Nearly two years ago, in the middle of her collegiate career, Dunne spoke about potentially letting it all slip in one moment during the Best of Both Worlds podcast.
Speaking to fellow Tigers star Flau’jae Johnson, she remembered warning herself that clapping back at critics could derail her NIL success.
"The art of trying to stay silent during certain things," Dunne reflected in September 2024, as per SI.com. "Saying one wrong thing can like ruin the business."
For Dunne, that awareness became the cornerstone of her brand strategy.
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 April 2024, the Westwood, New Jersey, native won the NCAA Women’s Gymnastics Championship for the first time despite not competing in the final.
After kissing the trophy alongside her teammates, she was subjected to trolling on social media. One of the many jibes aimed at her included the word “benchwarmer.”
While reflecting on the subject, Dunne also admitted to struggling to remain silent and avoid responding online. But the knowledge of representing herself as well as the LSU Tigers women’s gymnastics team helped her to keep it all in check.
And the method seems to have worked. Dunne achieved remarkable success before ultimately retiring from the sport in April 2025.
How NIL Policy Shaped Olivia Dunne’s Career
When the NIL policy was implemented on July 1, 2021, it allowed student-athletes to earn money through personal branding, endorsements, and more.
It allowed Olivia Dunne to begin amassing wealth just after completing her freshman season with the LSU Tigers.
She made a whopping $9.5 million in NIL money during her collegiate career, as per the SI report from September 2024. It made her the top-earning women’s student-athlete by some distance.
Dunne competed at the Tigers for five seasons after opting to take the fifth and final year of eligibility in 2025. In her last season, she competed in a few events before a knee fracture ended her season prematurely.
It played a key role in Dunne’s decision to retire from gymnastics altogether. Towards the end of her athletic career in 2025, Dunne's NIL valuation stood at $4.1 million, per On3.com.
Additionally, expanding her brand beyond gymnastics has led to other opportunities for the former gymnast. Dunne has featured in multiple issues of Sports Illustrated Swimsuit. She will also make her onscreen debut in Fox's Baywatch reboot.
Was Olivia Dunne one of your favorite gymnasts during her time on the collegiate scene? Tell us in the comments.
Written by
Arjun Sharma
Edited by
Sijo Paul