Olivia Dunne returned to the spotlight at Fanatics Fest 2025 in New York City with a weekend full of glamour, chaos, and a special reminder of the person who wasn’t there, her boyfriend, Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Paul Skenes.
Their relationship, which began at LSU in the summer of 2023, has grown into one of Gen Z’s favorite sports romances.
From their joint GQ feature in April 2025 to social media moments at baseball games, the couple has embraced life in the public eye while maintaining a sense of authenticity.
Dunne, now retired from competitive gymnastics, used the June 20 to 23 event to connect with fans, celebrate her latest magazine cover, and participate in some unexpected antics.
The 22-year-old stunned attendees on the final day wearing a sleek black midi dress as she signed copies of the 2025 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue, her first time appearing on the cover.
“About to sign all these :)” she wrote on Snapchat, referencing the massive stack of magazines featuring her image.
Later, she followed up with another message: “Done in record breaking time.”
Dunne also shared a clip showing a friend standing beside a life-sized image of Skenes in his Pirates jersey, with a sign reading “reserved” placed beside it.
Though he couldn’t attend the event, the gesture hinted at a personal tribute in his absence.
Livvy’s Fanatics Fest weekend delivers both fun and sentiment
Throughout the weekend, Dunne‘s presence at the festival was marked by humor and spontaneity.
She endured a soda spill, cracked a replica World Cup trophy during a kick attempt, and winced while watching Joey Chestnut demolish chicken fingers in a speed-eating competition.
Yet the event also offered a more tender side, especially when it came to Skenes.
At the trading card booth, Dunne made headlines for securing a rare anime-style red refractor rookie card of Skenes for $2,850, one of just five in existence.
She also posed next to his one-of-one debut patch card, which sold earlier this year for $1.11 million.
Dunne was among the early bidders for the card before the Skenes family decided to keep it in-house.
Speaking with PEOPLE magazine during a media session at the Meta Innovation Lab, Dunne reflected on how they manage their busy careers and long-distance relationship.
“I’m trying to go to as many baseball games as I can. I really just enjoy watching him, and he’s always on the go. He’s an athlete, so I get it. I get the grind.”
That grind has defined both of their careers, as Dunne concluded her NCAA journey with LSU this spring and Skenes continues his rise through Major League Baseball.
Despite the pressures of their respective sports and the attention they receive, the couple’s bond appears stronger than ever.
Fanatics Fest 2025 may have ended without Skenes physically present, but thanks to Dunne, his presence was felt in every room she entered.
Whether it was through her social posts, playful fan interactions, or affectionate gestures, Dunne made sure Paul was never far from the spotlight.
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