Olivia Dunne‘s final season debut for LSU gymnastics had her favorite spectator just off the floor in Baton Rouge in her boyfriend and Pittsburgh Pirates star pitcher Paul Skenes.
Dunne is entering her final year of college sports at the school where her and Skenes met in 2023 and have been an item ever since.
Dunne kicked off her season going fourth on the balance beam without a fall, scoring a 9.825. Dunne upped her score to a 9.875 going third on the Tigers‘ final event of the evening, the floor exercise.
Joining Skenes inside the Pete Maravich Assembly Center was Pirates teammate Bubba Chandler.
Dunne revealed Wednesday she and Skenes were in New Orleans the night of the Bourbon Street terror attack after sharing chilling images of her New Year’s celebrations.
On New Year’s Day the LSU gymnastics sensation posted two photos of a night out in Louisiana, yet they both appear to be from the previous evening.
Olivia Dunne ‘s final season debut for LSU gymnastics had Paul Skenes watching on live
Skenes and Dunne were on Bourbon Street before the deadly terrorist attack on Wednesday
Dunne shared a photo of Bourbon Street which appears to be hours before the terror attack
She and MLB-star boyfriend Skenes were first pictured alongside Chandler and partner Allie Enright at a bar.
Dunne also posted a second image, which appeared to show a packed Bourbon Street hours before the deadly attack, along with a heartbroken emoji.
It is unclear when exactly the group were on Bourbon Street, though the large crowds – seemingly in fine spirits – would suggest it was prior to the attack.
New Orleans is reeling from the fatal attack which claimed the lives of 14 and left 35 injured after a terrorist ploughed a vehicle into a large crowd celebrating the New Year on Bourbon Street.
Dunne used her extra year of eligibility granted by the NCAA to return to the Tigers’ lineup for a fifth season.
Skenes does not have to report for spring training with the Pirates for several more weeks.
LSU entered its season-opening meet ranked No 2 in the country, coming off a national title last season, and lived up to the billing. The Tigers defeated Iowa State 197.300-194.100.