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Olivia Dunne Highlights Challenges in Women’s Gymnastics Viewership
LSU gymnast Olivia Dunne has expressed her concerns regarding the declining viewership in women’s gymnastics, suggesting that the existing judging system and scoring criteria may contribute to the issue. Her remarks follow a disappointing outcome for her team, the LSU Tigers, in a recent SEC competition against Arkansas, where they were ranked No. 2 nationally.
In a candid post on X, Dunne addressed the issue of empty seats at NCAA gymnastics events, emphasizing her commitment to promoting the growth of women’s sports. “I care deeply about the growth in women’s sports especially in the NCAA,” she stated. “If you want fans to enjoy the sport and increase viewership, you have to look at what makes the crowds go crazy!”
Dunne argued that the current judging practices, which allow extensive deductions at the judges’ discretion, resemble interruptions seen in other sports that can detract from the overall excitement. She compared watching gymnastics with such judging to “a basketball game that’s constantly interrupted with penalties,” where the entertainment value diminishes. “The number of questions I am currently getting from fans about the scoring is significant enough for me to share this concern,” she added. “I love the art and intricacy of gymnastics but let’s get more eyes on the sport!”
She mentioned that her unique position, having cultivated an audience beyond hardcore gymnastics fans, gives her perspective on the confusion surrounding the sport’s judging and scoring system. “This is not about LSU; this is about the sport,” Dunne commented. “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 is happening with fans differently than people just looking at attendance numbers. Fans are confused.”
Dunne also highlighted her advocacy for female athletes and the importance of enhancing crowd engagement to secure financial support for them. “Making changes that can impact the entertainment value will affect athletes financially as well,” she noted. “Female sports in the NCAA have to focus on building crowd engagement to continue to get revenue support for the athletes.”
The gymnastics community has witnessed its own share of controversies regarding judging, further complicating viewership dynamics. For instance, the drama surrounding American Olympian Jordan Chiles at the recent Paris Games illustrated the confusion prevalent in scoring evaluations.
According to recent data, viewership for gymnastics has seen a significant drop, with the national championships experiencing a decline of over 100,000 viewers from 2023 to 2024, as reported by Awful Announcing.
With Dunne’s insights bringing attention to these pressing issues, the discussion around women’s gymnastics continues to evolve, underscoring the need for substantial changes that could reinforce the sport’s attractiveness to both audiences and potential fans.
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