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Olivia Dunne of the LSU Tigers
Livvy Dunne is bouncing back.
The LSU gymnastics star was optimistic about her return to the sport after suffering an avulsion fracture in her kneecap on March 6, informing PEOPLE exclusively of her hopeful plans to return to competition in the near future.
With sights set on securing a back-to-back victory at the NCAA women's gymnastics championships with the LSU Tigers, Dunne says that there's potential she'll compete despite her ongoing recovery.
"I'm doing everything I can to be able to," the 22-year-old athlete says. "I'm not sure what the case will be, but I don't think I'll be able to tumble or do beam," she says, though notes that "bars is not out of the question."
She adds, "I've been swinging bars again, getting back in the swing of things, shall I say... And yeah, it's been great to be able to move around again."
Related: Livvy Dunne Reveals Plans for Life After Gymnastics and How She'll Be Spending It with Boyfriend Paul Skenes (Exclusive)
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Olivia Dunne of the LSU Tigers competes during a meet against the Florida Gators at the Stephen C. O'Connell Center on Feb. 23, 2024 in Gainesville, Florida.
Dunne shared her health update with PEOPLE on March 31, just less than a month before the start of the NCAA women's gymnastics championships. This year, the competition is scheduled to run from April 17 to April 19 inside Dickies Arena in Fort Worth, Texas.
As for her healing process, Dunne says she's "doing much better" since she sustained the injury. "It is such a weird injury," she admits, adding, "That's the best way I can describe it. It's weird. It's not very common at all."
"Usually patella fractures are from a direct blow to the knee, but mine is from overuse, which you don't really see very often," the gymnast continues. "And really the only thing I need is time for it to heal... and it feels like it's been forever."
Dunne adds, "It sucks because it's the last part of our season, but I am getting better and we're getting stronger day by day. That's all I can ask for honestly."
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LSU's Olivia Dunne laughs as she warms up prior to NCAA Gymnastics action between the Arkansas Razorbacks and the LSU Tigers at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center in Baton Rouge, LA
An avulsion fracture happens when a fragment of the kneecap detaches because of an “excessive pull of the quadriceps tendon or patellar ligament,” according to the Cureus Journal of Medical Science.
On March 6, the gymnast — who's in her fifth and final year at LSU — revealed on her Instagram Stories that her knee injury was preventing her from participating at the final home meet for the Tigers.
"Hi friends! Unfortunately, I’ve been dealing with an avulsion fracture of my patella and will not be able to compete on senior night,” the college athlete wrote at the time.
Related: Olivia Dunne Announces Scary Injury Is Keeping Her Out of Competition: 'It Absolutely Breaks My Heart'
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LSU Tigers gymnast Olivia Dunne during a meet between the LSU Tigers on Feb. 17, 2023
"It absolutely breaks my heart to not get the opportunity to compete in the PMAC one last time," Dunne continued, referencing the arena at LSU. “Tiger fans, you’ve been so good to me!"
While Dunne graduated from LSU in December 2024, that July she announced that she would return to the team for a fifth year.
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