Research suggests Olivia Dunne showcased balancing on one leg, arching her back, and possibly handstands or splits during her Sports Illustrated Swimsuit shoot in Puerto Rico. It seems likely her poses highlighted her gymnastics flexibility and strength, blending athleticism with modeling. The evidence leans toward her incorporating floor routine skills, given her known expertise in handstands and splits from social media.
Olivia Dunne, a 22-year-old LSU gymnast and social media star, recently featured in the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit edition, where she blended her gymnastics skills with modeling in Puerto Rico. This shoot, set in a tropical environment, showcased her athletic abilities, making it a unique display of her dual talents.
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Specific Skills Displayed
During the shoot, Dunne demonstrated her ability to balance on one leg, a fundamental gymnastics skill requiring strength and coordination. She also effortlessly arched her back, likely performing a backbend, which highlighted her flexibility. Given her social media presence, it’s probable she included handstands and splits, adding an acrobatic flair to the photos.
Significance and Impact
This shoot is not just about modeling; it celebrates Dunne’s identity as both an athlete and influencer. By showcasing her gymnastics skills, she reinforces the message that women can be strong, sexy, and smart, inspiring others to embrace their multifaceted roles.
Olivia Dunne, a prominent LSU gymnast and social media influencer, made headlines with her recent appearance in the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit edition, photographed in Puerto Rico on February 20, 2025. This shoot, detailed in an article by Alisan Duran, highlighted her ability to merge her athletic prowess with modeling, setting her apart in both the sports and fashion worlds. This section provides a comprehensive analysis of her gymnastics skills showcased during the shoot, drawing from various sources to ensure a thorough understanding.
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Dunne, aged 22, is recognized for her athleticism, particularly in gymnastics, where she competes for LSU. Her social media presence, with over 11 million followers across platforms like TikTok and Instagram, has positioned her as the highest-paid female college athlete, thanks to lucrative Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) deals with brands like Vuori, American Eagle, and Nautica (Olivia Dunne 2023 SI Swimsuit Photos). Her journey, as outlined in the article, extends beyond gymnastics into the modeling sphere, with her return to SI Swimsuit in 2025 as an official rookie, following her initial feature in 2023.
The shoot in Puerto Rico, a location rich in scenic beauty, provided a tropical backdrop that complemented her athletic display. The article emphasizes that Dunne elevated her skills in this setting, blending gymnastics expertise with modeling in a way few others can, suggesting a deliberate integration of her sport into the photoshoot.
Specific Gymnastics Skills Showcased
The article specifically notes that Dunne struck “a series of awe-inspired poses that highlighted her gymnast’s physique and signature confidence.” Two key skills mentioned are:
- Balancing on One Leg: This pose, requiring both strength and coordination, is fundamental in gymnastics, particularly in events like the balance beam. It demonstrates her ability to maintain poise under pressure, a skill honed through years of training.
- Effortlessly Arching Her Back: Described as radiating poise, this likely refers to a backbend or similar flexibility pose, showcasing her flexibility, a critical aspect of gymnastics floor routines and beam work. This move highlights her ability to perform with control and grace.
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Beyond these, additional research into Dunne’s social media and gymnastics background suggests she likely incorporated other skills. For instance, web searches reveal she frequently performs handstands and splits in viral TikToks, such as a locker room video where she executed a handstand and splits while wearing LSU merch (Olivia Dunne Shows Off Her Flexible Gymnastics Floor Skills). Given the tropical setting, these moves could have been adapted for the shoot, perhaps on the beach or near water, adding an acrobatic element to the swimsuit photos.
Her favorite event, the uneven bars, and her participation in floor and beam events, as noted in her profile (USA Gymnastics Olivia Dunne), suggest she might have included hanging or strength-based poses reminiscent of bar work. However, the article’s focus on poses like balancing and arching leans more toward floor and beam skills, which are visually striking in a modeling context.
To understand the evolution, consider her 2023 SI Swimsuit shoot, also in Puerto Rico, photographed by Ben Watts (Olivia Dunne’s 2023 SI Swimsuit Photo Shoot). While that shoot focused more on standard modeling poses in bikinis, with no specific mention of gymnastics skills, the 2025 shoot seems to emphasize her athleticism. This shift aligns with SI editor-in-chief MJ Day’s comments, defending Dunne against criticism for leveraging her looks, stating her success goes beyond appearance (Olivia Dunne Showcases Gymnastics Skills). This suggests a deliberate choice to highlight her gymnastics, possibly in response to such narratives.
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Dunne’s integration of gymnastics into the shoot is significant. It reinforces her dual identity as an athlete and influencer, challenging stereotypes that women cannot be both strong and sexy. Her poses, blending athleticism with modeling, inspire young women to embrace their multifaceted roles, as noted in the article’s mention of her redefining the student-athlete role in the NIL era. This era, allowing college athletes to profit from their personal brand, has been pivotal for Dunne, with her estimated earnings reflecting her influence (How Olivia Dunne Turned the Male Gaze into a Gymnastics Empire).
However, this approach has not been without controversy. The article mentions backlash for leveraging her looks post-NIL, with some critics missing her athletic contributions. Yet, her shoot’s focus on gymnastics skills counters this, aligning with Day’s call to respect and applaud her athletic achievements.
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Detailed Breakdown of Skills and Poses
To organize the information, here’s a table summarizing the likely skills showcased, based on the article and additional research:
| Skill | Description | Evidence from Article/Web |
|---|---|---|
| Balancing on One Leg | Demonstrates strength and coordination, likely beam-related | Article mentions “balancing on one leg” |
| Arching Her Back | Flexibility pose, possibly a backbend, floor or beam | Article notes “effortlessly arching her back” |
| Handstands | Acrobatic move, floor routine, often seen on social media | Web search shows frequent handstand posts (Link) |
| Splits | Flexibility, floor routine, seen in locker room videos | Web search confirms splits in social media (Link) |
| Possible Bar Work | Strength-based poses, hanging or gripping, less likely | Her favorite event is bars, but article focuses on poses (USA Gymnastics Olivia Dunne) |
This table illustrates the range of skills, with balancing and arching confirmed, and handstands/splits probable based on her known repertoire.
Dunne’s 2025 SI Swimsuit shoot in Puerto Rico is a testament to her versatility, blending gymnastics with modeling to create a unique visual narrative. Her showcased skills—balancing, arching, and likely handstands/splits—highlight her athleticism, reinforcing her role as a trailblazer in the NIL era. As she continues to rise, her influence is expected to expand, encouraging more female athletes to embrace their multifaceted identities.
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