Former LSU gymnastics star and social media powerhouse Olivia “Livvy” Dunne has revealed that she shot her historic Sports Illustrated Swimsuit cover while fighting through the excruciating pain of a fractured kneecap.
The 22-year-old athlete, who recently concluded a legendary five-year collegiate career with the Louisiana State University Tigers, shared the startling behind-the-scenes reality of her tropical photo session in Bermuda.
Despite the severe physical discomfort caused by an avulsion fracture of her patella, Dunne pushed forward to secure her first-ever solo cover for the iconic annual magazine edition.
The revelation underscores the relentless work ethic that has transformed Dunne into the highest-earning female college athlete in the United States through Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) valuations.
The picturesque imagery captured on the pink sand beaches of Bermuda gave no hint of the physical battle occurring behind the lens.
Taking to her personal Instagram account to share a vlog-style recap of the excursion, Dunne explicitly detailed the circumstances of the high-stakes project.
“Fun fact: I was shooting on a fractured kneecap, so poses like this and the cover shot kind of hurt,” Dunne narrated over footage of her kneeling in the shallow Atlantic water.
“But it was honestly so worth it.”
The underlying injury was an avulsion fracture, a painful condition where a fragment of bone is pulled away from the main body of the kneecap by the extreme force of the quadriceps tendon or patellar ligament.
The injury originally occurred during her rigorous training and competitive calendar with LSU.
It ultimately sidelined her from competing in her final, highly anticipated Senior Night at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center (PMAC) in Baton Rouge.
Rather than withdrawing from her modeling commitments, Dunne chose to manage the injury discreetly on location.
The animal-print-themed shoot required extensive physical adjustments, with the final selected cover shot capturing her leaning directly on her knees in an asymmetrical zebra-print bikini.
The physical demands of the shoot were compounded by a strict, hyper-condensed itinerary dictated by her ongoing academic and athletic responsibilities at Louisiana State University.
Dunne spent a mere 24 hours on the island of Bermuda to ensure she did not miss mandatory classes back in Louisiana.
According to her production breakdown, her schedule included:
- Flying directly to Bermuda immediately following an away gymnastics meet against Auburn University.
- Participating in immediate, late-night wardrobe fittings alongside the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit fashion department.
- Waking up for a mandatory 5:00 AM hair and makeup session to capture the early morning golden hour lighting.
- Executing complex physical modeling poses on rocky coastal surfaces while actively managing acute knee joint swelling.
- Boarding an immediate return flight to the mainland less than a day after arrival.
During the process, Dunne was entirely unaware that her imagery was being considered for the prominent cover spot.
Showrunners and editor MJ Day kept the final layout decisions hidden until the official media reveal cycle launched.
Dunne’s elevation to cover status marks her third consecutive annual appearance in the publication, following highly publicized rookie features in Puerto Rico (2023) and Portugal (2024).
By securing the front page, she enters an elite echelon of pop-culture figures.
The issue features a diverse array of co-headlines, sharing the spotlight with:
- Jordan Chiles: Olympic gold medalist and fellow elite NCAA gymnastics competitor.
- Salma Hayek Pinault: Academy Award-nominated actress and global Hollywood icon.
- Lauren Chan: Groundbreaking fashion model, editor, and inclusive entrepreneur.
Following the official release, the portfolio was celebrated at a high-profile launch party at the Hard Rock Hotel in New York City. The red-carpet event drew a diverse crowd of sports and entertainment luminaries, including music mogul 50 Cent, legendary NFL tight end Rob Gronkowski, and Olympic gymnastics champion Suni Lee.
Further proving her resilience, Dunne later attended Miami Swim Week, where she went viral by confidently executing her trademark gymnastics splits directly on the fashion runway despite her ongoing knee rehabilitation protocol.
Transitioning into the Post-Gymnastics Chapter
The release of the historic print issue coincides directly with a major life transition for the New Jersey native.
Dunne recently issued an emotional public farewell to competitive gymnastics, concluding a decorated tenure at LSU highlighted by helping secure the program’s first-ever NCAA National Championship title.
“Finishing my career over the past five years at the best university in the world has been an incredible journey, and I’m forever grateful,” Dunne reflected in a tribute retrospective produced by the Tigers.
With over 13 million combined followers across TikTok and Instagram, Dunne is actively leveraging her digital reach to build an expansive entertainment and business portfolio.
Her schedule has shifted toward high-profile cultural fixtures, including attending the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs and making public appearances at Major League Baseball games alongside fellow lifestyle influencers Camille Kostek and Xandra Pohl.
While her competitive athletic era has concluded, her performance under physical duress in Bermuda reinforces her reputation as a determined professional across the media landscape.