Olivia Dunne, star gymnast and social media influencer, has publicly criticized the judging system in women's gymnastics, arguing that it's confusing for viewers and contributing to declining attendance.
Olivia Dunne, a prominent figure in women's gymnastics, has voiced her concerns about the declining viewership in the sport, suggesting that the judging system and scoring criteria may be contributing factors. Dunne took to X, formerly known as Twitter, to express her observations following LSU's unexpected loss to Arkansas in an SEC matchup. The Tigers entered the competition as the No. 2 ranked team nationally.
'I am sitting here watching NCAA gymnastics and the empty seats are concerning,' Dunne wrote. 'I care deeply about the growth in women's sports especially in the NCAA,' she added. '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.' Dunne further elaborated on her concerns, drawing comparisons to other sports. '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,' she stated. 'At some point it feels negative and loses the entertainment factor that draws the crowd in.' Dunne emphasized that she receives numerous inquiries from fans regarding the scoring system, indicating a widespread confusion and dissatisfaction among viewers. She highlighted the importance of addressing these concerns to enhance the sport's appeal and attract a larger audience. 'The number of questions I am currently getting from fans about the scoring is significant enough for me to share this concern,' she wrote. 'I love the art and intricacy of gymnastics but let’s get more eyes on the sport!' Dunne acknowledged her 'unique' perspective on the matter, attributing it to her established fan base outside of the sport. 'This is not about LSU this is about the sport,' she clarified in a separate post. '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.'She continued, 'I also spend time raising money for female athletes and will always advocate for athletes. Making changes that can impact the entertainment value will affect athletes financially as well. Female sports in the NCAA have to focus on building crowd engagement to continue to get revenue support for the athletes.' Dunne's comments come at a time when gymnastics is facing scrutiny regarding its judging and scoring consistency. Recent high-profile events, such as the controversy surrounding American Olympian Jordan Chiles at the Paris Games, have brought the issue to the forefront. Statistics also support Dunne's concerns. Awful Announcing reported a significant decline in TV viewership for the national championships, dropping by over 100,000 from 2023 to 2024
OLIVIA DUNNE GYMNASTICS JUDGING SCORING VIEWERSHIP NCAA FEMALE ATHLETES
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