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"There's no opportunity for these kids" - Olivia Dunne's coach Jay Clark reveals the dark side of NCAA gymnastics
Olivia Dunne's LSU coach, Jay Clark, unveiled the dark side of NCAA gymnastics, shedding light on the uncertainty of NCAA gymnasts' careers after college. In the sixth episode of The Money Game, he shared there is no professional gymnastics league like the NBA or NFL.
Dunne, 22, joined the LSU Tigers gymnastics team in 2020. In the 2023-24 season, she matched her career high of 9.9 twice on the floor exercise and maneuvered in the uneven bars at the SEC Championships. Though Dunne was not a competitor in the recently concluded NCAA Championships finals, she was a cheerleading mainstay in LSU's title-winning feat.
The Baton Rouge native also amassed millions of social media followers and cashed in on her name, image, and likeliness (NIL), a rule that allows college athletes to earn from their social media fame. While she became a powerhouse influencer, the same can't be said about other NCAA gymnasts.
In episode six of The Money Game (Prime Video), a documentary revolving around the NIL deals of the LSU Tigers, coach Jay Clark revealed the sad truth that NCAA gymnasts have no professional opportunity after college.
"There's no opportunity for these kids, after they complete their collegiate career, to go on and to do it professionally." (via Marca.com)
He further referred to the NBA and NFL, which allow athletes to enter professional leagues after their collegiate careers.
"For our sport, there's no NBA. There's no NFL."
Olivia Dunne's coach Jay Clark encouraged the LSU gymnasts to not find 'external motivations'
In the 2023-24 NCAA gymnastics season, after defeating Auburn Gymnastics in February, the LSU Tigers team was scheduled to battle it out with the Florida Gators. Though Head Coach Jay Clark was content with the performances, he gave them a reality check before the Gators vs LSU match-up.
Olivia Dunne's coach and gymnastics standout KJ Johnson shared a frame in a press conference, where the former revealed that the gymnasts would face downfall if they resort to external factors.
"If you start trying to find external motivations, you’re doomed."
He instead insisted the LSU girls find motivation within themselves.
"We have to focus on our own performance and let everything else take care of itself."
Olivia Dunne returned to her alma mater for a fifth-year eligibility and was also featured on The Money Game, the six-part NIL-focused docuseries by Prime Video.
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