Paul Skenes' girlfriend Olivia Dunne opens up about going viral during her early years at LSU
Paul Skenes and Olivia Dunne are an absolute power couple in the sports world. Skenes has quickly become the ace of the Pittsburgh Pirates, while Dunne is holding it down for the LSU Tigers' gymnastics squad.
Apart from being a gymnast, Dunne boasts an impressive 5.3 million followers on Instagram. She's one of the top-earning NIL athletes in college, earning $4.1 million.
However, there was a time when Dunne wasn't a household name. She opened up about her initial rise to internet stardom during her freshman year of college (via GQ Sports).
"I was just flipping around at the beach, and it blew up," said Dunne.
Dunne revealed that she began posting clips to her TikTok in the spring of 2020. With much of the world locked down, she wanted to continue to tumble, and she instantly started blowing up.
She continued to amass a following, and by her second year at LSU, the NCAA introduced NIL. Now, she had a way to make real money while still competing at the college level.
Dunne was growing her brand, and by doing that, bringing more eyes to her sport. Since her popularity, she has signed with companies like Nautica, Vuori and Sports Illustrated, to name a few.
Paul Skenes and Olivia Dunne have a lot to juggle
Now that Paul Skenes and Olivia Dunne are in the limelight, they don't have much free time to themselves. The two are constantly working on their craft, be it online or on the mat for Dunne.
The Pittsburgh Pirates ace is traveling for nearly half the year. And during the offseason, he's working in the gym and in the bullpen to get ready for the grueling MLB season.
Dunne also doesn't have much time for herself. When she's not traveling or competing in meets at LSU, she's busy maintaining her online presence. And you cannot forget about the homework, as she's still in college.
That's a lot to handle for the two, but they seem to make it work just fine. Dunne is in her final year at LSU, so it will be interesting to see what's in store for her. She has made tons of opportunities for herself over the last few years.