Olivia Dunne has followed in the footsteps of Emily Ratajkowski and Olivia Culpo by being named a Sports Illustrated swimsuit rookie.
The LSU gymnast posed on the cover earlier this year after having a shoot in Puerto Rico and the 21-year-old was thrilled to have the chance to return again in 2024.
‘Coming back for Year 2, I mean, last year I said it was a dream come true, and nothing’s changed,’ she said.
‘It’s still a dream come true. I can’t believe I can call myself a rookie. It feels unreal.’
She shared a video on her Instagram as part of Tuesday’s grand announcement from the new photoshoot – which she flew to Porto in Portugal for.
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LSU gymnast Olivia Dunne has been named as a Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Rookie
Dunne shared a teaser clip from a Portugal photoshoot as the news was announced
Dunne appeared in high spirits during the teaser video that she shared from the shoot
The gymnast, who is dating top Major League Baseball project Paul Skenes, says in the footage: ‘Today we are in Porto, Portugal, shooting for the 60th anniversary of Sports Illustrated swim!’
Dunne also shared a picture from the shoot on her Instagram story – as well as a picture of cake to celebrate the news with ‘rookie’ written in the frosting.
Ratajkowski was named a rookie in 2014 and Culpo, who is engaged to San Francisco 49ers star Christian McCaffery, also received the honor in 2018.
It represents another big moment in what has been a whirlwind year for Dunne.
She has had to permanently switch to online classes at LSU due to her massive popularity.
She told Elle: ‘There were some scares in the past, and I just want to be as careful as possible. I don’t want people to know my daily schedule and where I am.’
Earlier this year, Dunne appeared in her very first Sports Illustrated swimsuit edition
But the latest news marks another chapter of an incredible year for the gymnast
Dunne pictured with her boyfriend Paul Skenes, one of MLB’s major prospects, and her pet dog
Dunne’s soaring popularity means she only attends her classes at LSU online nowadays
LSU’s first gymnastics meet of 2023 was attended by raucous – and youthful – male fans attended to get a glimpse of Dunne; chanting and reportedly propositioning other gymnasts.
‘It was our first meet of the season,’ Dunne told Elle. ‘I knew that my success had grown from the years prior, but I did not expect there to be that many people out there to see me and my team.
‘I didn’t really realize until after the meet when I saw the videos of it. I was like, ‘Holy moly.’
LSU gymnastics resultantly hired a bodyguard to protect her, and the team, from hoards of screaming teenage fans who were amassing at her meets.
Away from gymnastics, Dunne’s NIL deals have seen rake in an estimated $3million in earnings over the last 12 months.
Sports IllustratedEmily RatajkowskiOlivia Culpo
