Coach Jeff Clark announced on Tuesday that the LSU gymnastics team will have additional security measures in place for the remainder of the season, following an incident involving fans in Salt Lake City who were eager to see LSU gymnast Olivia Dunne.
Since joining the LSU program, Dunne has gained a large following on TikTok, with nearly 7 million followers. This has led to her securing lucrative name, image, and likeness deals. However, recent incidents at a meet against Utah prompted Dunne to ask her fans to be respectful and to control the behavior of her followers.
According to Coach Jeff Clark, a security officer will accompany the LSU gymnastics team to competitions for the remainder of the season, as reported by The Advocate/Times-Picayune.
"That person will be in our hotel and outside our locker room and getting us to and from the bus at the venue," Clark said to the outlet. "(The officer) will be there to create a perimeter that keeps everybody safe."
Listen, I also think @livvydunne is very beautiful guys but this type of behavior is very problematic and creepy. Do better pic.twitter.com/JB8LHUeRbE
— Tampa Nole (10-3) (@ShuaMayer13) January 9, 2023
Coach Jeff Clark stated that while he wants to allow fans to get autographs from the gymnasts, safety of the athletes is a priority. He added that gymnasts usually visit and interact with their family and friends in the stands during breaks between routines.
"Things have to change. We just can't expose them," Clark added. "We're looking at some policy changes that will give parents access at a different location to their daughters."
Olympic gold medalist Kathy Johnson Clarke reported that she was frequently mistaken for Olivia Dunne's mother by fans. Additionally, a parent of a Utah gymnast took to Facebook to state that fans of the LSU team were "rude and disrespectful," as reported by OutKick.
On Sunday, Dunne took to Twitter to express her appreciation for the support of her fans but also requested them to be more respectful of others.
"I will always appreciate and love the support from you guys, but if you come to a meet, I want to ask you to please be respectful of the other gymnasts and the gymnastics community as we are just doing our job," Dunne tweeted.
I will always appreciate and love the support from you guys, but if you come to a meet, I want to ask you to please be respectful of the other gymnasts and the gymnastics community as we are just doing our job❤️
— Olivia Dunne (@livvydunne) January 8, 2023
Dunne is a highly popular collegiate athlete on social media, with a large following. According to On3 Sports, her name, image, and likeness (NIL) value is estimated to be $2.3 million. Dunne earns a significant amount through various sponsorships, such as with activewear brand Vuori, American Eagle, and Planet Fuel. She is also represented by one of the largest agencies in the sports industry, WME Sports.
Dunne is a junior student-athlete at LSU. When she first joined LSU in 2021, she achieved academic honors such as making the SEC's First-Year Academic Honor Roll and being named a WCGA Academic All-American. Dunne is also a WCGA All-American in uneven bars and in 2022, she was included in the SEC Academic Honor Roll.
Louisiana State University gymnast Olivia Dunne is now asking her young male fans to "be respectful" when they come to her meets. Her fans are showing up in droves, hoping for just a glimpse of her. However, the spectacle is upsetting Dunne and other gymnasts. pic.twitter.com/GK1hH6HdjT
— Inside Edition (@InsideEdition) January 10, 2023
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