LSU gymnast Olivia Dunne announces return to Tigers for 2025 season

One of college sports’ most well-known athletes, LSU gymnast Olivia Dunne, has decided to use her final year of eligibility and return to school for one more season with the reigning national champion Tiger gymnastics program.

The LSU Gymnastics Twitter account and Dunne herself announced the decision on Monday afternoon, posting the following video with a message from Dunne announcing her intention to return to Baton Rouge for one last dance on the mat.

You can see that post right here:

She's Not Dunne Yet#GeauxTigers | @livvydunne pic.twitter.com/gGSeHHnN1s

— LSU Gymnastics (@LSUgym) July 8, 2024

Here was Livvy Dunne’s full message to LSU fans announcing her decision:

“Dear LSU, these past four years have changed my life. There’s something about putting on a Purple and Gold leotard. There’s something about competing in front of 13,000 screaming Tiger fans. There’s something about being pushed by your coaches to be your very best. And there’s something about being part of a team that made school history. No matter how many opportunities come my way off the mat, there’s just something about LSU. And that’s why I’m here to say: I’m not Dunne yet.”

Olivia Dunne currently ranks as the No. 2 most valuable NIL athlete in On3’s NIL 100, with an estimated valuation of $3.9 million.

Dunne joins fellow seniors, Haleigh Bryant, in return to LSU

Livvy Dunne isn’t the only big name to announce a return to the LSU gym team. Not too long after the Tigers took home the national championship, their star athlete and best performer on the team, Haleigh Bryant, announced she would be coming back for her fifth year.

“Dear gymnastics, the sport has been a part of my life 20 years now,” Bryant said in her own statement upon returning. “Competing in the PMAC every Friday night has been a dream come true. Nothing compares to the joy I have competing in the purple and gold. So the answer to the question you’ve all been waiting for, I am back for Year 5.”

Bryant, the 2024 NCAA All-Around Champion cemented her legacy as one of the greatest gymnasts in history with the national title win for LSU. In addition to her individual win, Bryant scored a 39.7125 in the all-around to win another title.

Aside from Bryant and Dunne, some other seniors are coming back as well. There’s Alyona Shchennikova, who unfortunately missed the ’24 season thanks to an Achilles tear. Meanwhile, Chase Brock and Sierra Ballard have also pledged to return, and Kiya Johnson has said she will not be coming back.

It certainly appears that LSU will be back in the mix for the national championship again in 2025 after the program won its first in 2024.