10 Things You Don’t Know About Olivia Dunne

The 2024 SI Swimsuit model and LSU gymnast reveals some little-known fun facts about herself.

Cara O’Bleness | Nov 27, 2023

Olivia Dunne was photographed by Ben Watts in Porto and North of Portugal.

Ben Watts/Sports Illustrated

Given her impressive social media footprint, people may think they know Olivia Dunne. And while the 21-year-old has gained more than 12.2 million followers by opening up about her life as a collegiate student-athlete, she doesn’t necessarily share too much of her personal life online. There’s plenty that she leaves a mystery for her fans.

While on set with the SI Swimsuit team in Porto and North of Portugal, for the 2024 SI Swimsuit Issue, Dunne revealed a few little-known facts about herself. See how well you really know the LSU gymnast by testing your knowledge against these fun tidbits.

She does not enjoy these two subjects

When asked what the toughest class she’s taken at LSU is, Dunne quickly responds, “any math class,” though she says Spanish is a close second.

She’s majoring in interdisciplinary studies

In fact, Dunne changed her college major from communications to interdisciplinary studies to avoid taking a foreign language class.

“Spanish was really hard for me to learn,” she admits. “I changed my major because I didn’t want to take Spanish anymore because I was bad at it.”

She’s somewhat superstitious

When it comes to pre-meet rituals, Dunne has a go-to charm for luck.

“I have a little lucky duck that I bring with me everywhere,” she says. “I’ve had it since like Level 4, and she’s brought me the best of luck, so she comes with me everywhere.”

She enjoys hitting the links

When she’s not in the gym, studying for class or hanging with friends, Dunne loves hitting the driving range.

“I have two torn labrums, and it doesn’t feel great, but I still like to do it,” she quips of her golfing hobby.

She played this sport growing up

While Dunne has been practicing gymnastics since she was 3, she also played softball as a child with her older sister, Julz.

“She was amazing at it,” Dunne says of her sibling. “And she just makes it look really fun.”

She wants to inhabit this fictional world

If Dunne could live in any television show universe, she’s quick to pick SpongeBob SquarePants. “I like his energy,” she says of the cartoon sponge.

She’s a huge fan of this singer-songwriter

Dunne loves Lana Del Rey, and her favorite song is “Thunder,” off the singer-songwriter’s eighth studio album, Blue Banisters.

She’s a fan of this fantasy series

While she doesn’t necessarily know which Hogwarts house she'd belong to, Dunne admits she has recently started getting into the Harry Potter films.

She’s got a great sense of humor

While you can quickly glean Dunne’s fun-loving side from any of her social media posts, she says people often assume she’s pretty serious in real life.

“A lot of people I feel like think I’m not goofy and that I’m quite serious,” she says of her personality. “I like to have a good time. I would say I’m quite unserious.”

She thinks this food is totally overrated

“Pickles,” she says with a giggle. “I don’t love ’em at all.”