Livvy Dunne’s Post-Gymnastics Journey: Embracing New Opportunities
Livvy Dunne’s journey from elite collegiate gymnast to global sports influencer really marks a turning point in women’s athletics. With her LSU career behind her, she isn’t leaving sports—she’s just finding a new lane in it.
Name, image, and likeness (NIL) opportunities have changed everything for female athletes, and Dunne’s story shows just how far those changes can go. Now, she’s building her own brand and stepping into the role of educator, hoping to help younger athletes figure out this fast-moving world.
The End of One Chapter and the Start of Something Bigger
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Dunne spent almost twenty years in gymnastics, capping it off with a national championship at LSU in 2024. Injuries kept her out during her last season, but her influence had already grown way past the gym by then.
Newsday’s coverage dives into how she’s treating the end of her competitive career as a beginning, not a finish line.
At AthleteCon in Charlotte, North Carolina, Dunne talked about her future with a mix of optimism and curiosity. She said, with a big smile, what’s next is everything.
Now that she’s free from the grind of training, travel, and classes, she can finally chase creative and professional projects that used to feel out of reach.
Life Beyond the Mat
For Dunne, life after gymnastics isn’t about losing focus or drive. She’s just putting that energy into things that fit her brand and her interests.
She’s still in the spotlight, thanks to her work as a Sports Illustrated swimsuit model and her massive social media presence. She’s not fading away—if anything, she’s more visible than ever.
Building a Multimillion-Dollar Personal Brand
Dunne stands out as one of the athletes who truly made the most of NIL. While at LSU, she became the highest-paid female college athlete, pulling in over $4.1 million.
That didn’t just happen by chance. She took a thoughtful approach to content, connecting with her audience, and picking the right brands to work with.
With more than 13 million followers on TikTok and Instagram, Dunne proved that fans respond to realness and regular storytelling. Brands like Nautica and Crocs noticed her reach, and Sports Illustrated boosted her profile even more by putting her in the spotlight at big events.
The Role of Strategy and Support
Her older sister and manager, Julz Dunne, played a huge part in all this. Together, they built a strategy that balanced her status as an athlete with a broader, mainstream appeal.
Keeping things in the family let Dunne stay in control of her image. She’s described the NIL world as the Wild West, and having trusted support made a difference.
Key elements of her brand-building approach include:
- Consistency in posting and audience engagement
- Selectivity in choosing brand partnerships
- Authenticity in showcasing life as both an athlete and a young entrepreneur
AthleteCon and the Push to Educate
At AthleteCon, Dunne showed she’s serious about giving back. CEO Sam Green organized the two-day seminar, bringing in over 100 college athletes who wanted to learn about monetizing their platforms.
Another 150 couldn’t get in—there just wasn’t enough space. That says a lot about the hunger for NIL education right now.
Athletes there didn’t just listen to talks. They worked hands-on with reps from TikTok, Snapchat, and Meta, made live content, and even competed for NIL deals.
It was all about real-world experience, not just theories or tips you could find online.
All Athletes Are Creators
Green believes that every athlete is a creator, and Dunne’s story lines up perfectly with that idea. She’s proof of what’s possible when you mix athletic talent with digital creativity.
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Green sees Dunne as the purest example of NIL done right—her connections with fans feel genuine, not forced. Dunne wants athletes to realize they’re more than just competitors. She pushes them to see the value in their own stories.
Balancing Fame, Performance, and Pressure
People celebrate Dunne’s success, but it didn’t come without stress. Trying to juggle classes, top-level competition, and daily social media posts put a lot on her shoulders.
She’s talked openly about breaking down in her coach’s office, overwhelmed by all the demands. That honesty makes her story more relatable, and honestly, it’s refreshing.
A lot of young athletes are feeling that same pressure in the NIL era. More visibility means more opportunities, but it also means more stress.
Lessons Learned the Hard Way
Dunne came out of those tough times with a wider perspective. She realized you don’t have to pick just one path to be successful.
It’s okay to chase excellence in more than one area—sports, business, media, whatever feels right. That’s something a lot of young athletes need to hear.
Her core takeaways for young athletes include:
- You are more than your sport
- Curiosity and networking open doors
- Creation matters more than consumption
The Broader Impact on Women’s Sports
Dunne’s impact goes way beyond her own achievements. She’s part of a shift in how people see and value women’s sports.
With her platform, she’s helped make it normal for female athletes to have real financial and cultural power. Her relationship with Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Paul Skenes, another former LSU athlete, has drawn attention too, mixing fan bases and bringing in new eyes.
Still, she stands on her own. Her identity is built on what she’s accomplished, not just who she’s dating, and that’s important.
A Road Map for the Future
NIL regulations are always changing. Dunne’s story gives institutions, brands, and athletes a kind of road map—though, honestly, nobody has all the answers yet.
Transparency matters. Education and a bit of creativity will help athletes who want to carve their own path.
Dunne encourages athletes to keep posting and creating. She really believes the audience is out there and people care about these stories.
Her journey from gymnast to global influencer feels bigger than just one person’s success. Maybe it’s a hint at where sports are headed next.