Fifth Year LSU Gymnast Olivia Dunne Inspired During Her SI Swimsuit Debut in Puerto Rico

The athlete is the epitome of multi-faceted—and wants other athletes to follow in her footsteps.

Olivia Dunne was photographed by Ben Watts in Puerto Rico / Ben Watts/Sports Illustrated

For Olivia Dunne, the past few years have been memorable to say the least. Between building a following on social media, racking up brand deals and campaigns under new NIL policies, winning a national championship with the LSU gymnastics team and two Sports Illustrated Swimsuit photo shoots, the 21-year-old is enjoying immense success.

And she’s not done yet. She said as much in an Instagram announcement on June 8: she will be returning to LSU for her fifth year of eligibility. She’s not ready to put away her purple and gold leotard. We don’t blame her—she has a trophy to defend, as this past spring saw the LSU squad win their first national title in program history.

The SI Swimsuit team couldn’t be more thrilled to be a part of her story. Dunne arrived to the set of her first brand photo shoot in Puerto Rico in early 2023, ready to fulfill a dream. And she did just that as she posed for photos captured by photographer Ben Watts. But, more importantly, it was a chance “to inspire the younger generation,” she said on set.

As a SI Swimsuit model, she wanted to use her platform to send a powerful message to young female athletes: “You’re more than just your sport,” she said.

For Dunne, that’s certainly true. Between entrepreneurial efforts, modeling and athletics, it’s clear that she’s multi-faceted. If you need proof, just look to the outtakes from her first brand feature. Here are a few of our favorites.

Ben Watts/Sports Illustrated

Ben Watts/Sports Illustrated

Ben Watts/Sports Illustrated