Olivia “Livvy” Dunne has spent most of her life navigating a world defined by rigid structure. Now 23, Dunne has followed those rules to the highest tiers of the sport. She competed for five years on Louisiana State University’s gymnastics team, culminating in LSU’s 2024 National Championship win. But beneath all of that discipline lies one standout fact: Dunne started reaching elite milestones before most children hit middle school.
Livvy Dunne says she had already attained the highest gymnastics level at age 10
“I was rated 10 at age 10,” she says — referencing Level 10, the highest competitive tier an athlete can achieve before entering the elite ranks. “That’s the highest level one can attain; it meant I was competing against adults.” Dunne’s skill level placed her among the country’s most exceptional young gymnasts. By the time she hit double digits, major college programs were already watching her.
“I started getting recruiting letters when I was 10,” she recalls. LSU ultimately recruited her when she was a high school freshman, a trajectory that has since become impossible due to updated NCAA recruiting age restrictions. Her early start solidified “gymnast” as a core part of her identity, even now that she has officially stepped away from competition. “Former athlete, and honestly, right now: model,” she says when asked how she describes herself. Still, gymnastics remains embedded in her self-image.
One rule outside the gym, however, changed Dunne’s life than any set of athletic guidelines. Following a 2021 Supreme Court decision, the NCAA amended its policy to allow student-athletes to profit from their name, image, and likeness (NIL). That shift opened unprecedented opportunities for Dunne, who quickly became one of the most profitable NIL athletes in collegiate sports history. With millions of followers and brand partnerships across fashion, beauty, and lifestyle, she stepped into a new level of visibility, one that made the label “influencer” inevitable. Dunne prefers to define herself through her achievements rather than her online presence. Even as she pursues modelling full-time, her years of discipline, competitiveness, and early excellence continue to shape how she sees herself.
Originally reported by Khushali Srivastava on RealityTea.
