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Olivia Dunne is officially sidelined due to a serious knee injury, putting a dramatic pause on what many hoped would be her comeback season. The 21-year-old LSU senior is no stranger to adversity. In her decorated college gymnastics career, Dunne has powered through multiple injuries, including torn biceps, ruptured labrums, and stress reactions in her legs.
But this time, the situation appears far more complicated. The diagnosis: an avulsion fracture of the patella-a painful injury where a fragment of bone connected to a tendon or ligament gets pulled away from the kneecap.
LSU confirms Dunne's absence from regional roster
LSU gymnastics head coach Jay Clark first hinted at the severity of Dunne's condition in February.
"Liv's knee is still an issue," Clark said. His tone carried more than just concern-it was layered with frustration, hinting at the unusual nature of Dunne's setback.
"It's not like other injuries," Clark explained, describing her recovery as difficult to manage and clearly affecting her ability to perform at an elite level.
The injury ultimately forced LSU to leave Dunne off its regional competition roster, a heartbreaking development for fans who hoped to see her on the mat once again.
For Dunne, the news adds emotional weight to what has already been a tough season. The gymnast has long had to balance physical rehabilitation with an intense public spotlight.
Last season, following LSU's championship victory, Dunne found herself the target of online trolls mocking her lack of competition time, branding her unfairly as a "benchwarmer." Her absence was not due to lack of talent, but to injury-something few critics bothered to acknowledge.
This week, Dunne finally confirmed the full extent of her injury in a TikTok post that left fans both stunned and sympathetic.
The video showed her heading home, and when asked by a fan why she wasn't competing, Dunne replied: "I'm recovering from a fractured kneecap."
Despite the setback, Dunne's spirit remains intact. When another fan jokingly asked whether she'd return for a "ninth season," she replied with a playful, "I should."