LSU gymnast Olivia “Livvy” Dunne has been sidelined due to an avulsion fracture of her patella, an injury she revealed on her Instagram Story. This condition involves a fragment of the kneecap detaching, typically due to excessive pull from tendons or ligaments.Â
Sidelined Indefinitely
Dunne expressed her heartbreak over missing LSU’s senior night meet against Georgia, stating, “It absolutely breaks my heart not to get the opportunity to compete in the PMAC one last time. Tiger fans, youâve been so good to me! Thank you for your endless support and as always, Geaux Tigers!â
She has been absent from competition since January 24, marking her sixth consecutive missed meet.
Head Coach PrognosisÂ
LSU head coach Jay Clark described the injury as “extremely unusual,” noting that such fractures typically result from significant trauma, which Dunne did not experience. He remains “cautiously optimistic” about her potential return, emphasizing that her recovery depends on pain management and healing progress.
Recovery Time
Recovery timelines for avulsion fractures of the patella can vary significantly. Some sources indicate that the typical recovery period is at least three months. Since Dunne’s injury was disclosed in early March, a three-month recovery would likely sideline her for the remainder of the gymnastics season.
Considering the nature of the injury and the typical recovery timeline, it appears unlikely that Livvy Dunne will return to competition this season. Her participation in the upcoming SEC and NCAA Championships remains uncertain, and this injury raises questions about the future of her gymnastics career.
Despite this setback, Dunne continues to engage with her substantial social media following and has received an outpouring of support from fans and the gymnastics community.
