Katherine Sidnell
University isn’t easy at the best of times, let alone when you are a TikTok sensation - but Olivia Dunne has said it’s no longer safe for her to attend classes in person.
In a recent interview, the gymnast also spoke about how internet fame had impacted her everyday life.
Dunne is currently a student at Louisiana State University (LSU), and whilst most students are concerned about passing finals, the 20-year-old has struggled with unwanted attention after her TikTok took off - with some fans having gotten a little too close for comfort.
Speaking to Elle Magazine, she said: “There were some scares in the past, and I just want to be as careful as possible. I don’t want people to know my daily schedule and where I am.”
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Dunne also said that she's 'careful' when walking around campus and that sometimes, other students have approached her for a photo, but have largely gotten used to her around the university.
But the gymnast has faced some pretty scary situations in the past.
Earlier this year, an estimated group of 100 to 200 men crashed a gymnastic competition at the University of Utah and interrupted other athletes with chants of ‘put Livvy in’.
And a similar incident happened in Salt Lake City in January, with a large group of fans gathering outside the Jon M. Huntsman Center where her team were competing, saying 'rude things and swearing' while hoping to get a glimpse of Olivia, who did not attend.
She later called the situation 'insane'.
As well as cutting down classes, her head coach Jay Clark has also added a ‘security detail’ to support the gymnastics team when they are on tour.
He later told TMZ: "We will be working to create a perimeter around where we get on the bus, where we load…I take our team's safety and security very seriously."
Following the incident at Utah, Dunne took to Twitter and tried to discourage her fans from repeating the behaviour.
She wrote: "I will always appreciate and love the support from you guys, but if you come to a meet, I want to ask you to please be respectful of the other gymnasts and the gymnastics community as we are just doing our job."
Reflecting on the intense interest in her life, she told Elle that she finds it ‘hard to handle at times’.
“It’s not a girl’s responsibility how a man looks at her or how he acts, especially when you’re doing your sport and that’s your uniform.
"I can’t help the way I look, and I’m going to post what I feel comfortable with.”
She added: "It’s hard to handle at times, definitely, because I am just a 20-year-old student. I think people do forget that.”
UNILAD has reached out to Louisiana State University for comment.