“Ordering everything in English then saying, Merci” - Paul Skenes' girlfriend Olivia Dunne jokes about her French in recent video from Paris
Although she is not there to compete, Olivia Dunne's presence at the Summer Olympics in Paris is causing quite a surge in fan interest. Recently, the gymnast-turned-influencer shed some light on her French abilities.
In a recent upload on TikTok, Dunne shared the realities of being an American in France to her eight million followers. In her video, which featured her sitting at a restaurant, Dunne claimed to be “ordering everything in English then saying, Merci” and captioned the video "it's called culture."
An acclaimed gymnast at Louisiana State University, Dunne is not competing at the Olympics in Paris, but rather giving her followers a look at the festivities. In early 2020, Olivia Dunne began to gain popularity after uploading videos of her routines online.
Still only 21 years of age, Dunne's career has taken off along with her internet fame. A native of New Jersey, Dunne is a beneficiary of a 2021 NCAA rule change allowing amateur athletes to gain income from their name, image, and likeness. In 2023, it was reported that Dunne was paid some $50,000 for a single social media post.
"Looks like Olivia Dunne is heading to Paris! (I’d assume to watch WAG)" - Miles
Since last summer, Olivia Dunne has been dating Paul Skenes. Skenes, 22, was selected by the Pittsburgh Pirates with their first overall pick in the 2023 Draft. Since making his MLB debut for the Pirates in May, the 6-foot-6 right hander is 6-1 with a 1.90 ERA.
Olivia Dunne has regularly been in attendance at Skenes' various MLB outings to date, acting as his biggest supporter and cheerleader. The pair were even photographed taking a romantic river cruise outside of PNC Park in Pittsburgh earlier this summer.
Olivia Dunne addresses Olympic rumors
After congratulating Team USA gymnast Simone Biles for winning a Gold Medal, Dunne addressed rumors that she might compete in the 2028 Olympics. However, that appears unlikely, with Dunne telling the New York Post:
'I don’t think I’m going to try for the Olympics or anything after, since I once competed for Team USA and I closed that chapter and went to LSU,'
With her final year of college now on the horizon and her boyfriend's MLB career in full swing, Olivia Dunne certainly has a lot on her plate. To consider the heights the starlet might mount after her graduation is an exciting thing to think about.