Olivia Dunne might have retired from gymnastics, but hasn’t left the sport behind.
On Saturday night at the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Miami Swim Week show, Dunne shocked and delighted the crowd by dropping into a flawless split right in the middle of her runway walk. The 22-year-old former LSU gymnast turned SI Swimsuit cover star proved she’s still got the skills and the confidence to command any stage she steps onto.
Wearing a black polka dot bathing suit, Dunne closed her walk with a burst of athletic flair that had the audience erupting in cheers. She raised her arms, twirled confidently, and soaked in the applause.
“The face of a girl who just found out… she’s opening the show!” her sister Julz captioned an Instagram Story, capturing Dunne’s shock just hours before the event.
From Gymnastics Floor To Fashion Runway
Dunne officially stepped away from gymnastics earlier this year after LSU’s season wrapped. In an emotional farewell post, she wrote, “Gymnastics, you have filled my heart and will always be a part of me… Thank you for everything.” That chapter may have closed, but her transition into modeling is already making waves.
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Not only did Dunne walk the runway in two different looks, including a zebra-print bottom paired with a cropped white tee, but she was also honored with opening the entire show. She later re-shared clips from the night to her Instagram story, including the crowd’s reaction to her split, which has since gone viral.
While her appearance marked a high point, it also comes during a troubling time. Just a day earlier, Dunne posted a TikTok video sharing that she feels stalked by groups of men at airports. “They run after me down the TSA PreCheck line and yell at me if I don’t give them my autograph,” she said, visibly distressed. She showed a clip of herself crying after another unsettling encounter at baggage claim, noting that these incidents happen during personal travel as well as public appearances.
Despite the challenges, Dunne continues to embrace her next chapter. “I feel like I’m just stepping into a new version of myself,” she told Sports Illustrated after her cover debut. If her runway moment is any sign, that version is just getting started, and not slowing down.
Also Read: Everyone Is Praying For Olivia Dunne
