- The Tigers overcame starting the final rotation in third place to win the title
- In what will likely be her last collegiate gymnastics meet, Dunne emerges victorious
- DailyMail.com provides the latest international sports news.
Olivia Dunne immediately burst into tears when she and her LSU gymnastics teammates found out they had captured the program’s first national championship.
Facing stiff competition from No. 3-5 national seeds California, Utah and Florida, Dunne and the rest of the No. 2 Tigers knew the margins to be crowned champions were razor-thin.
To make Dunne even more nervous on the sidelines, LSU finished the meet on the balance beam, a discipline notoriously difficult to maintain or increase a lead.
After LSU head coach Jay Clark confirmed that Aleah Finnegan’s 9.950 in the team’s final routine of the season was enough to claim a title, the relief was obvious on the part of Dunne, who was unable to stop the problem.
Dunne was far from the only LSU gymnast overcome with emotion. Although she did not compete in the national championship, the social media sensation had been a valued member of the Tigers team all season.
Dunne celebrates with the national championship trophy after LSU’s victory on Saturday.
As soon as Clark informed his team of their victory, Dunne burst into tears alongside his team.
Aleah Finnegan scored 9.95 on beam to seal LSU victory at Dickies Arena in Fort Worth
Tears were finally replaced by elation as he got many photos holding and kissing the national championship trophy.
The Tigers claimed the title with a score of 198.225, beating California (197.850), Utah (197.800) and Florida (197.4375).
No. 1 overall seed Oklahoma was eliminated in the national semifinals after entering Thursday’s meet with the Sooners’ lowest score on vault since January 2008.
Dunne took to Instagram as the team celebrated and hailed it as the “best day ever.”
The finals will likely be the last collegiate gymnastics meet for Dunne, who has more than 13 million followers on TikTok and Instagram alone.
LSU, which finished fourth last year, trailed Utah by 0.037 points and led third-place California by 0.113 after three rotations, but senior Sierra Ballard started the fourth and final rotation on beam with a personal record of 9.950, her only routine of the day. .
Dunne took to Instagram as the team celebrated and hailed it as the “best day ever.”
Dunne’s mirror selfie before what was likely her last college gymnastics meet on Saturday.
It remains to be seen where Dunne goes from here, it now appears that her collegiate gymnastics career is over.
He has an annual NIL value of $3.7 million, per On3, the highest of any gymnast and No. 3 in college sports.
Dunne’s possibilities after LSU are endless, and his brand deals open up to bigger partnerships.
Although there is no professional gymnastics league, Dunne’s star power is undeniable. She could see a gain similar to Caitlin Clark.
Clark had an NIL with Nike while at Iowa and recently signed an eight-figure partnership with the company.