LSU senior, Olivia Dunne, known for her elegant routines and pioneering success in NIL commands attention with every post she shares. But on Sunday night, she took to X (formerly Twitter) not to promote a partnership or celebrate a victory, but to voice her concern about the future of NCAA Gymnastics.
I am sitting here watching NCAA gymnastics and the empty seats are concerning. I care deeply about the growth in women’s sports especially in the NCAA. If you want fans to enjoy the sport and increase viewership, you have to look at what makes the crowds go crazy! People…
— Olivia Dunne (@livvydunne) January 27, 2025
"I am sitting here watching NCAA gymnastics and the empty seats are concerning. I care deeply about the growth in women's sports, especially in the NCAA. If you want fans to enjoy the sport and increase viewership, you have to look at what makes the crowd go crazy!"Olivia Dunne
Her comments stemmed from observations during recent meets, including LSU's gut-wrenching loss to no. 17 Arkansas in the fourth week. While the Tigers' narrow defeat was a subplot, Dunne's broader critique of gymnastics scoring resonated across the sport's community. Specifically, she questioned the subjective nature of judging an it's impact on audience engagement.
A Call for Change
At the heart of Dunne's post is a plea for reforms to enhance the sport's entertainment value. She compared the current scoring system—laden with discretionary deductions, to other sports marred with frequent penalties or a football game with flags on every play.
Her concerns aren't unfounded. Through the early weeks of the NCAA gymnastics season, only two perfect 10s have been awarded. This scarcity of "perfect" scores leaves fans and athletes frustrated. The perceived stinginess in scoring raises questions about what gymnastics values most: technical precision or crowd-pleasing performance?
Fan Engagement vs. Technical Vigor
As Dunne pointed out, gymnastics' future depends on striking a balance between artistry and accessibility. Casual fans, she noted, may struggle to understand the intricacies of scoring, detracting from their enjoyment and discouraging continued support. "The number of questions I am currently getting from fans about the scoring is significant enough for me to share this concern," Dunne wrote. "I love the art and intricacy of gymnastics, but let's get more eyes on the sport!"
This is not about LSU this is about the sport. I’m in my 5th year and I have an audience of casual fans so maybe I’m in a unique position to see what is happening with fans differently than people just looking at attendance numbers. Fans are confused. I also spend time raising…
— Olivia Dunne (@livvydunne) January 27, 2025
Her remarks come at a pivotal time. Women's collegiate gymnastics has been increased visibility in recent years, buoyed by athletes like Dunne, who leverage social media to amplify their voices. Yet, this growth is at risk if the sport fail to adapt to evolving audience expectations.
Backlash and Support
Dunne's critique hasn't gone unnoticed. While many fans and fellow athletes applauded her advocacy, others accused her of oversimplifying the issue.
So use your platform to educate your casual fans, instead of this post that encourages people to think all routines are perfect. I’m sure you know there are deductions to take in every routines, a ten should be the exception not the norm
— carolina antelo (@antelo_carolina) January 27, 2025
tbf fans are confused because a way too high percentage of commentators are unqualified, and the accessibility of the sport is still low (routines often not being available for viewing after a meet). there is plenty of entertainment in gymnastics
— Eric (@EricGymFan) January 27, 2025
Respectively, making the sport easier to get valid 10s is not doing the positive you think it will for women’s sports, ignoring deductions definitely won’t . Besides raising money, genuinely, how have you used your social media platform to showcase the sport?
— laura (@laura7911) January 27, 2025
Such criticisms highlight the fine line Dunne walks as both an ambassador for gymnastics and a polarizing figure in the NIL era.
As a fifth-year senior with millions of followers, Dunne occupies a unique position-one that bridges the gap between die-hard gymnastics fans and casual spectators.
The State of LSU Gymnastics
The Tigers entered their matchup against Arkansas riding a three-meet win streak but fell short in Fayetteville with a score of 196.600-196.875. Dunne, who opened the floor rotation, posted a 9.700—her lowest score of the season. The absence of Sierra Ballard, a key contributor, compounded the team's struggles.
Looking ahead, LSU must regroup before facing Missouri Tigers on January 31.