Olivia Dunne sounded the alarm about the lack of viewing in women’s gymnastics and suggested that the judges and the scoring system be blamed.
Dunne fired by an uncharacteristic critical post on X about the state of the sport. It came when LSU was upset in a SEC Matchup against Arkansas. The tigers came into the meeting as the No. 2 troop in the country.
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LSU Tigers Gymnast Olivia Dunne Practice between events against Florida Gators during the meeting at the Exactech Arena in Stephen C. O’Connell Center in Gainesville, Florida, Friday 23 February 2024. (Matt Pendleton/Gainesville Sun)
“I sit here looking at NCAA gymnastics and the empty seats relate to. I am deeply interested in the growth of women’s sports, especially in NCAA,” she wrote. “If you want fans to enjoy the sport and increase viewing, look at what makes crowds to be crazy! People understand what a perfect 10 is and want people who do things that look good to be rewarded.
“Too many deductions taken at the referee’s discretion feels the same as watching a basketball game that is constantly interrupted with sanctions or a football match with flags on each game. At one point it feels negative and loses the entertainment factor that pulls the amount in. Number of questions I currently get from fans about the scoring is significant enough for me to share this concern.
Dunne added that she may have a “unique” perspective on the matter considering the fanbase she cultivated outside the sport.
LSU Tigers Gymnast Olivia Dunne warms up against Florida Gators before meeting at the Exactech Arena in Stephen C. O’Connell Center in Gainesville, Florida, Friday 23 February 2024. (Matt Pendleton/Gainesville Sun)
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“This is not about LSU, this is about the sport,” she wrote in a separate post. “I’m in my 5th year and I have an audience of casual fans, so maybe I’m in a unique position to see what happens to fans different from people who just look at participation numbers. Fans are confused.
“I also spend time raising money for female athletes and will always go in for athletes. For the athletes.”
Gymnastics is not exactly the stable sport when it comes to its judges and points that are scored or drawn. The drama involving American Olympic Jordan Chiles at Paris Games is a good example of that.
Olivia Dunne from LSU Tigers looks at before a meeting against Florida Gators at Stephen C. O’Connell Center on February 23, 2024 in Gainesville, Florida. (James Gilbert/Getty Images)
Terrible announced noted that viewing on TV fell to the national championships from 2023 to 2024 by more than 100,000.
