When Paul Skenes couldn’t be there to support his girlfriend Livvy Dunne after her season-ending injury, the Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher still found a way to comfort the gymnast.
Dunne, 22, suffered an avulsion fracture in her kneecap on March 6, forcing her to sit out her final meet with the LSU Tigers after a five-year career. “I was very bummed,” she tells PEOPLE.
Skenes was with the team for the start of spring training when Dunne’s injury happened. Still, Dunne says the baseball star made sure she knew he was thinking of her. “He DoorDashed me Starbucks and flowers and Raising Cane’s,” she shares.
Her Cane’s order, for those wondering? “A 3 Finger Combo with an extra Cane’s sauce and an unsweetened tea,” Dunne tells PEOPLE.
Related: Livvy Dunne’s Gymnastics Career Ends After LSU Is Knocked Out of NCAA Championship: ‘It’s Been Real’
Lucas Casel/MLB Photos via Getty
Paul Skenes poses for a photo with Olivia Dunne on November 18, 2024 in Baton Rouge, La.
Dunne also had the support of her parents, Katherine and David, who she says came to visit her at LSU after her injury.
“I’m so grateful for them and the support that they’ve given me throughout my whole gymnastics career, not just when they found out that I was hurt and couldn’t compete,” says the social media star.
With the world becoming Dunne’s new oyster, she’s still figuring out her next moves. “I want to stay, somehow, involved in sports or advocating for women’s sports at least, because that’s something I’m very passionate about,” she says.
Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
She’ll likely get her fill of Pirates baseball this MLB season, sharing that she likes to travel with Skenes to the “warm places” when he has a road game.
“I’m excited to be part of his world during his season,” says Dunne. “Whenever it was vice versa and I was starting to get into season, he would come to my meets. We love to support each other.”
Derick E. Hingle/Getty
Livvy Dunne of the LSU Tigers on Jan. 3, 2025
Related: Livvy Dunne Passionately Testifies That NCAA Settlement Undervalues Her Worth as ‘Highest-Earning Female Athlete’
Dunne kicked off celebrating the culmination of her LSU career with a stop at Raising Cane’s in Baton Rouge, La. recently. “This shoot with Cane’s is a fun way to start my summer vacay,” she says, “But I’m very excited to try and take some time off.”
After five years of balancing gymnastics, college and a booming social media career, Dunne is looking to the future.
“I’ve been trying to crunch in a lot of things that I said no to in the past, but I’m excited to relax and travel and go see Paul,” she says. “I’ve got a lot to look forward to.”
Read the original article on People
