Olivia Dunne sounds alarm 'empty seats' in gymnastics, suggests judges' scoring may be part of issue

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Olivia Dunne sounded the alarm about the lack of viewership in women’s gymnastics and suggested that the judges and the scoring system may be to blame.

Dunne fired off an uncharacteristic critical post on X about the state of the sport. It came as LSU was upset in an SEC matchup against Arkansas. The Tigers came into the meeting as the No. 2 squad in the country.

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LSU Tigers gymnast Olivia Dunne practices between events against the Florida Gators during the meet at Exactech Arena at the Stephen C. O'Connell Center in Gainesville, Florida, on Friday, Feb. 23, 2024. (Matt Pendleton/Gainesville Sun)

"I am sitting here watching NCAA gymnastics and the empty seats are concerning. I care deeply about the growth in women’s sports especially in the NCAA," she wrote. "If you want fans to enjoy the sport and increase viewership, you have to look at what makes the crowds go crazy! People understand what a perfect 10 is and want people who do things that look great to be rewarded. 

"Too many deductions taken at a judge’s discretion feels the same as watching a basketball game that’s constantly interrupted with penalties or a football game with flags on every play. At some point it feels negative and loses the entertainment factor that draws the crowd in. The number of questions I am currently getting from fans about the scoring is significant enough for me to share this concern. I love the art and intricacy of gymnastics but let’s get more eyes on the sport!"

Dunne added that she may have a "unique" perspective on the matter given the fan base she cultivated outside the sport.

LSU Tigers