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LSU beefs up security at gymnastics meets after incident with Olivia Dunne fans

Jaylon Thompson, USA TODAY
·2 min read
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There will be a new protocol in place at upcoming LSU gymnastics meets. The university will enhance security to curtail disruptive fans from impacting student athletes.

The new measures will be implemented following an incident involving junior all-round gymnast Olivia Dunne last Friday. A group of young men attended LSU’s season opener against the University of Utah in Salt Lake City and disrupted routines of other gymnasts.

The group had posters and full-size cutouts of Dunne. They screamed in an unorderly fashion “We want Livvy! Give us Livvy!” Dunne, a TikTok influencer, was not competing due to injury.

LSU gymnast Olivia Dunne performs earlier this year in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
LSU gymnast Olivia Dunne performs earlier this year in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

Another video surfaced of fans waiting for Dunne after the meet. The incidents have led to notable changes.

"We will have security detail with us now when we go on the road and we will be working to create a perimeter around where we get on the bus, where we load," LSU head coach Jay Clark told reporters via ESPN reporter Alyssa Roenigk.

LSU will also make a change to home meets. Clark mentioned that minor modifications will take effect that involve the student-athletes and the fan base. This includes limiting the amount of time they can interact with fans near the guardrail.

"We are going to change some of the policies of allowing the girls to go into the stands immediately following a meet," Clark said. "We've always allowed them to go up there post-meet with their families and interact with them.

"We want to make sure we still provide them with that time with their families, but there won't be any more going into the stands and there will be a limited amount of time that they can interact with the fans in the stands over the rail and that will be monitored closely."

Olivia Dunne, seen here at a national competition in August 2018, practices her routine on the floor exercise during warm up period prior the first round of competition at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. She is now on LSU's gymnastics team.
Olivia Dunne, seen here at a national competition in August 2018, practices her routine on the floor exercise during warm up period prior the first round of competition at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. She is now on LSU's gymnastics team.

Dunne has commented on the incident. She appreciated the support but asked for a respectful environment when gymnasts are competing.

"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," Dunne wrote on her Twitter account.

LSU will host their home opener against Oklahoma on Monday.

Dunne is an WCGA All-American on the uneven bars and owns a career-high 9.925 score on the event.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: LSU beefs up security at upcoming gymnastics meets