Olivia Dunne, NCAA’s Highest-Paid Female Athlete, Advocates for Gender Equality in Sports

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In July 2021, NCAA announced that student-athletes would finally be allowed to profit from their marketing deals, it was widely expected that Olivia Dunne would spearhead the movement, according to those sources close to her.

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At the age of 20, the All-American gymnast has already amassed a huge following on social media, thanks to her long-standing involvement in the sport. Beginning her training at the young age of 3, Dunne became the youngest USA International Elite gymnast when she was only 11-years-old. In 2017, she won a gold medal with the USA Junior National Team. By the time she turned 16, she had accumulated 100,000 Instagram followers, and her TikTok account, featuring her impressive flips, surged in popularity during the pandemic in 2020.

NCAA’s Highest-Paid Female Athlete

Dunne secured a full scholarship to attend Louisiana State University, and when the NCAA agreed to the new Name, Image and Likeness policy, “that’s the moment my life changed,” she told PEOPLE for the annual Women Changing the World issue.

“There was no roadmap of how to do school, your athletics and social media all at the same time. There’s really no one that’s ever done it. And I figured I could change that. I could pave the way and be a good example to young girls that look up to me,” the athlete stated.

Ever since, several brands are lining up to work the gymnist, who currently has 7.2 million followers on TikTok and another over 3.7 million on Instagram. Her first deal was reported with the clothing brand Vuori, “and I’m still with them to this day,” she noted.

Dunne is now the highest-paid NCAA athlete and is reportedly “grateful to be making seven figures a year.” “With gymnastics, you peak when you’re about 15 years old,” she explained. “After college, there’s nothing really for gymnasts.”

LSU Champion

Dunne secured a full scholarship to attend Louisiana State University, and when the NCAA agreed to the new Name, Image and Likeness policy, “that’s the moment my life changed,” she told PEOPLE for the annual Women Changing the World issue.

“There was no roadmap of how to do school, your athletics and social media all at the same time. There’s really no one that’s ever done it. And I figured I could change that. I could pave the way and be a good example to young girls that look up to me,” the athlete stated.

Ever since, several brands are lining up to work with the gymnast, who currently has 7.2 million followers on TikTok and another over 3.7 million on Instagram. Her first deal was reported with the clothing brand Vuori, “and I’m still with them to this day,” she noted.

Dunne says she is “grateful to be making seven figures a year.”

“With gymnastics, you peak when you’re about 15 years old,” she explained. “After college, there’s nothing really for gymnasts.”

Read More: LSU Gymnastics Olivia Dunne Dubbed ‘Most Perfect Human’

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