Olivia Dunne (Photos via Instagram)
Olivia Dunne’s collegiate career officially ended last Thursday when LSU finished third in the NCAA semifinals and failed to repeat as national champions.

The girlfriend of Pittsburgh Pirates star pitcher Paul Skenes recently announced her retirement from gymnastics.

What a career she has had, spanning 20 years of hard work, from growing up in Hillsdale, N.J., to competing for the United States Women’s Gymnastics National Team and for LSU.

The 2025 season marked her final year with LSU gymnastics. She helped LSU win its first National Title in the 2023-24 season and set a career-high of 9.900 on the floor twice. She also spent time on the U.S. National Team in 2017.

Instead of going out on top last year, she decided to use one more year for one last ride.

In an emotional farewell video, the 21-year-old broke down in tears as she reflected on a journey that began when she was just a toddler and ended in Tiger purple and gold.

“Thank you gymnastics❤️,” Olivia Dunne wrote.

 

Xem bài viết này trên Instagram

 

Bài viết do Olivia Dunne (@livvydunne) chia sẻ

Dunne posted the video on Instagram, which included footage of her watching and breaking down in tears at its conclusion.

“Time flies when you’re having fun,” Dunne said while narrating the video.

“Something said that when you’re enjoying yourself to the point time seems to slip away from you and that’s exactly how the last 20 years in this sport have felt. … Every risk was worth the reward.”

“You will always be my first love,” Dunne said in the video.

“Time did fly by, and I will cherish every memory for the rest of my life,” she said.

Olivia Dunne Now Moves On To The Next Phase Of Her Career

Olivia Dunne (Photo By Jerome Miron-Imagn Images)

Olivia Dunne might be done with college, but not done being seen.

Dunne is a Sports Illustrated swimsuit model who has posed for the magazine several times. Not to mention, she has 13 million followers between TikTok and Instagram and has an NIL evaluation of $4.1 million, according to On3.

That includes deals with the likes of Crocs, American Eagle Outfitters, ESPN, and GrubHub.

She will not be going too far.

Houston Texans star Azeez Al-Shaair has admitted regrets over his illegal hit to Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence and the ensuing brawl between the teams in a lengthy statement on social media.  

Al-Shaair’s statement comes as his three-game suspension as a result of the incident has ended and he is slated to return to the field for the Texans on Sunday against the Tennessee Titans.

On December 1, an Al-Shaair hit to the head of a sliding and defenseless Lawrence caused chaos in Jacksonville. The defensive back needed to be restrained by several coaches and Lawrence has not played since taking the barbaric contact.

‘While so many jumped at the first opportunity to hop on the false narrative – that l’m a dirty player or bad person – the messages from all who stood by me were the only things keeping me mentally afloat during a time of isolation,’ Al-Shaair said on social media.

‘I’ve learned so much from this entire experience. Seeing myself on video – letting my emotions get the best of me to the point where I completely lost it – was an embarrassing and eye-opening moment for me.’

‘I’ve had to earn everything in my life. I never want to allow anyone to get me to a point where I jeopardize everything that I’ve worked all my life to obtain. That was not the way I want to represent myself or my family and I will continue to learn and grow from that moment.’

+2
View gallery

Azeez Al-Shaair has admitted regrets over his hit to Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence

+2
View gallery

The Texans defensive back was suspended for three games as a result of the hit to Lawrence

Al-Shaair said during his three-game ban, he met with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and other league executives for the first time, taking issue with how he was characterized in the official announcement of his suspension.

The defender said he thought his character and integrity were ‘unjustifiably smeared’ in the release but the meeting with Goodell and others was ‘productive’ and gave him hope it would not happen again.

‘In that conversation – man-to-man – I owned and acknowledged that my actions following my ejection were careless and, in that moment, I didn’t think about the responsibility I have been blessed with to represent the shield,’ Al-Shaair continued.

‘I also stated that the letter, and specifically the language used in the letter, was equally as careless and conveyed that the context of the words used were not a reflection of my character, nor my career, as I have not been warned multiple times for my play on the field.’

Al-Shaair’s hit on Lawrence was not the only controversial incident he was involved in this season.

During the Texans’ game against the Bears in September, he punched Roschon Johnson, who wasn’t even in the game at the time of another sideline confrontation.

Al-Shaair ended his statement by saying his view is that everyone in the league office and on the field are on the same team to represent the NFL in the best nature possible, something he failed to do earlier this month.

‘Lastly, I’ll say that this world is full of negative people who can’t wait to tear you down, but if you move with love and compassion, the seeds of good you planted in others’ lives can grow into the very tree that shades you with comfort and compassion when you need it most,’ Al-Shaair concluded.

‘I am a man of God, I am a leader, a warrior and a lover. I am also a hell of a football player and I’m grateful to be back doing what I love.’