After the LSU Tigers’ SEC victory, Olivia Dunne, who was sidelined by injury, reunites with Olympic gold medalist Suni Lee and says four words.
The LSU Tigers wrapped up their regular season in dominant fashion, clinching a share of their first SEC regular-season title since 2018. With an impressive 11-2 record overall and a 7-1 mark in conference play, LSU capped things off with a 198.200-197.550 victory over No. 14 Auburn inside Neville Arena on March 14. This marks the Tigers’ fifth SEC title and their fourth since 2017, solidifying their reputation in collegiate gymnastics. Sidelined due to a knee injury, Olivia Dunne was missing from the mats. But that doesn’t mean she would not cheer for her team! Also, how can she stay back now that the LSU Tigers won an SEC title? She was present to support her team in the arena and also came up with a special message. Just four words, and she delivered it!
She reposted the Tigers’ SEC title-winning announcement with the caption, “Winner Winner Chicken Dinner,” showcasing her excitement and pride in the team’s accomplishment after the team’s victory on her Instagram story. The post she shared was originally shared by the LSU gymnastics official Instagram page. The post featured a picture of LSU gymnasts encircled around what read, “SEC REGULAR SEASON CHAMPIONS 2025 LSU GYMNASTICS.” In addition to celebrating LSU’s success, Olivia Dunne also shared a special moment with her longtime friend and Olympic gold medalist, Sunisa Lee. The duo reunited and posed for a photo, which Dunne captioned, “We are so back @sunisalee.” But what was Suni Lee doing in the meet?
Well, if you think she was there to support Livvy’s squad, then you are wrong! She was there to support Olivia Greaves, her co-USA team member, who is currently donning Auburn’s Leos and her alma mater Auburn. Suni Lee also shared an Instagram story of Greaves performing on the uneven bars. And the caption? Well, it said, “sisterrrr!!! (watery eye emojis).” Also, Paris Olympian reshared the Instagram story of Olivia Dunne, in which both the gymnasts wore the tracks of the opposite teams. A no-brainer, Livvy was in the LSU track, and Suni was in Auburn’s track. Quite an interesting picture, we must say! Also, Dunne is a big Lee fan. She even traveled to Paris to watch Suni perform.
Coming back to the meet, LSU’s title-clinching performance was one for the books, featuring standout contributions from multiple athletes. Freshman Kailin Chio and fifth-year senior Haleigh Bryant played crucial roles in securing the victory. Their contributions ensured that the Tigers finished the season on a high note heading into postseason competition. Their score of 198.200 was the second-highest they have ever achieved on the road in the regular season. Freshman sensation Kailin Chio delivered a historic moment, earning her first perfect 10.00 on vault, while sophomore Konnor McClain added a strong 9.875 on bars. Haleigh Bryant, a key leader for the Tigers, anchored the rotation with a stunning 9.975 on bars, securing a dominant 49.600 team score in the first rotation on bars.
Bryant continued to shine as she wrapped up the second rotation on vault with a solid 9.900, helping push the team to 49.575. She wasn’t finished—her all-around score of 39.775, a season-high, earned her the all-around title and individual wins on bars and beam. This brought her career total to an astonishing 103 titles. The team’s championship performance included six individual scores that tied or set personal season- or career-best marks, solidifying their dominance in the SEC.
While Olivia Dunne may not have been able to compete in her final season as she envisioned, her passion for LSU gymnastics remains unwavering. Her four-word celebration and reunion with Sunisa Lee were reminders of the deep bonds within the gymnastics community. As LSU aims to carry this success into the postseason, fans got an update regarding Dunne’s injury from coach Jay Clark
Olivia Dunne’s coach gives latest update on Gymnastics star’s knee Injury
Olivia Dunne is no stranger to injuries and has previously missed much of the 2022–23 season, battling two torn labrums, a torn bicep, and a stress reaction in her leg. But this time, the injury is something entirely different. An avulsion fracture of her patella, an injury that pulls a piece of bone away from the kneecap, has kept her from performing since January 24. This also led her to miss her senior meet as well as the Tigers’ regular-season finale.
Ahead of LSU’s matchup against Auburn on Friday, March 14, head coach Jay Clark provided an update on Dunne’s condition during a pre-match press conference. “It’s about her pain,” he explained. He further admitted that he himself is not well aware of the type of injury that Dunne faces, saying, “It’s an unusual injury—I had to look it up.” Discussing Dunne’s condition, Clark explained, “Generally speaking…the little avulsion fracture that she has… She and I were talking about it yesterday. That generally happens to people who have been in car accidents or some sort of blunt force trauma.” He continued, “…she can’t recall anything like that. It’s an extremely unusual situation she is dealing with, and it just hurts.”
Clearly, missing her last seven meets is not the way the fifth-year senior wanted to close out her college career. However, whether she’s performing on the mat or cheering from the sidelines, Dunne’s influence on LSU gymnastics is undeniable. The farewell might not be what she envisioned, but her legacy is already sealed!