Q&A: Livvy Dunne's life after gymnastics, the pitch she 'taught' Paul Skenes and more

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Q&A: Livvy Dunne's life after gymnastics, the pitch she 'taught' Paul Skenes and more
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Livvy Dunne on life after LSU gymnastics and what future holds
Meghan Hall sat down with former LSU gymnastics star Livvy Dunne to see how she's transitioning to life away from the sport.
Sports Seriously
The gymnastics career of influencer Livvy Dunne is over after 20 years, and life without the one thing that took up so much of her time is something she's still processing.
Dunne, who began gymnastics when she was just three years old, spent five years at LSU and won an NCAA title with the Tigers in 2024. During her time in Baton Rouge, she also began sharing gymnastics videos on social media, which seemingly skyrocketed her fame overnight and helped her become an NIL trailblazer.
Dunne is no longer competing, but says gymnastics will never leave her, and she'll always be a gymnast at heart. She currently maintains relationships with her LSU teammates, who have now become sisters to her as she maneuvers through what's next.
"I think the transition from being a DI athlete [in] any sport to no longer doing your passion ― I think that is a very hard transition," Dunne told For The Win while promoting her partnership with Invisalign. "Gymnastics consumed so much of my childhood, so to no longer do it anymore is crazy. It really is."
For The Win recently sat down with Dunne to talk about life after gymnastics, the pitch she "taught" her boyfriend, Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Paul Skenes, and her head-turning split on the Sports Illustrated runway.
This interview has been condensed and edited for clarity.
Are there any recommended changes you would make to the NIL system to better help women athletes?
NIL, that world, is constantly evolving. I think that no matter what, I will always advocate for women's sports. I started a fund at LSU called the Livvy Fund, and it's to help provide NIL deals for female athletes. I'm going to continue doing that. I think that's part of my legacy as a college athlete at LSU. I would love to help keep providing NIL deals and help educating women on working with brands and getting those deals, because it's definitely more difficult as a female athlete to get NIL.
For most men, I think they're being paid to play ― some of the top NIL earners ― and that's not the case for women. I did brand deals. I worked with brands to get the revenue. So, to help women, educate them, help them get deals, help them be the bosses of their own life, I think that's so important.
What do you think it would mean to Simone Biles to compete at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics?
I think she's already so accomplished. She's been the GOAT in my eyes. She is the GOAT, and I think if she goes to L.A. ... That would make it her fourth Olympics. This is her, I don't know, third victory lap. That would be crazy. She definitely could do it.
I'm not sure if it's in the cards for her. I don't know if she wants to, but she's the best gymnast of all time, and I have nothing but respect for her as an athlete and as a person.
How did you manage to get through your Sports Illustrated cover shoot with an injured knee?
I had no choice but to be in the zone because I was actually at the end of my gymnastics season, and we had a day off after the Auburn gymnastics meet that we competed at. Flew right to Bermuda. Did the photo shoot on a fractured kneecap. Didn't know I was shooting for a cover. They hadn't told me. So, I was just doing a normal shoot. Took some pain medicine for my knee.It was really fun. I love working with Sports Illustrated. They make me feel confident. I smiled. My smile makes me feel confident during my photoshoots, and even if I get nervous, my default is to go back to a smile, take a deep breath, smile. Get the shot I need. I flew back to school, and I was told that I got a cover. It was pretty crazy. It all happened so fast, and I was so excited.
Who triple-dog dared you to do a split on the Sports Illustrated runway?
Well, I tweeted that I got triple-dog dared. It was just a joke. It was funny because it was pretty spur of the moment. We had a rehearsal. We did the walkthrough. We did the rehearsal of the runway show, and I did not do a split. I kind of just thought of it while I was laying on the beach. I consulted with my sister, and I did it. I just had to do it. It felt right in the moment. And it was fun ...
It was the most fun runway show ever. It was the only one I've never been to, but I had a blast. They had me open the show, which I have never even walked on a runway. So, it was pretty surreal to open the Sports Illustrated runway show. I had to pull out a split because it felt right.
Is there a gymnastics move Paul could actually pull off?
Oooo. I think Paul could be a good bar swinger because of how tall he is. His lines would be beautiful.
I don't really think that he could do any specific skill because he's too scared of getting hurt, but I think he could be good at swinging bars. I think that he would have a very nice line.
Is there a pitch that you know you could pull off on a baseball field?
Yeah, a splinker. I taught him that in the offseason. [said with a serious face]
No, I'm kidding. I didn't teach him that, but I think I could do it.