Olivia Dunne and the LSU gymnastics team returned to Baton Rouge for the first time since winning the program’s first national championship on Saturday for a ‘Welcome Back Ceremony’ where fans greeted the title-winners.
Dunne did not compete on the floor in Fort Worth during the national-championship meet, but was all smiles throughout the ceremony. And she was smiling while her teammates talked on Sunday outside the Pete Maravich Assembly Center.
Dunne immediately burst into tears when she and her teammates found out they had secured the program’s first national championship after a tremendous showing on the final rotation on balance beam.
After LSU head coach Jay Clark confirmed Aleah Finnegan’s 9.950 in the team’s final routine of the season was enough to claim a title, the relief was obvious from Dunne, who could not stop the waterworks.
Dunne was far from the only LSU gymnast overcome with emotion. Although she did not compete in the national-championship meet, the social-media sensation had been a valued member of the Tigers’ squad all season long.
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