Paul Skenes shares the career advice that keeps him and Olivia Dunne at the top of their game

Olivia Dunne is still running the show. Even with limited meet time due to injury, the LSU gymnast remains one of the most talked-about athletes in college sports-and the numbers back it up. She currently sits at No. 4 on On3’s NIL Valuation list with a staggering $4.1 million brand valuation, making her the only gymnast (and top-ranked woman) in the top 10. And when she does compete, she delivers-scoring a 9.875 on floor and 9.825 on beam in LSU’s 2025 season opener against Iowa State.

Meanwhile, her boyfriend, Paul Skenes, is off to a scorching start with the Pittsburgh Pirates. In his latest outing against the Nationals, the right-hander struck out six over six sharp innings, giving up just one earned run and snapping a three-game losing streak. Both Dunne and Skenes are young, in the spotlight, and thriving in it-but what’s keeping them so locked in?

The mindset that’s keeping Dunne and Skenes focused

In a recent interview with Esquire Sports, Skenes shared how he and Dunne stay level-headed despite all the noise. “Stay present. I tell Liv this all the time because she tells me it too,” he said. “It’s easy to feel overwhelmed with everything going on… Getting ready for my outing is the biggest thing I’m doing today.”

We don’t think too far ahead. We just stay in it

Paul Skenes for Esquire Sports

For Skenes, it’s about simplifying. Same goes for Dunne. In a sit-down with Flau’jae Johnson, she admitted she’s already thinking ahead-not to gymnastics or coaching, but to the next chapter in building her brand.“I like to think about what’s next,” she said. That kind of forward-thinking, paired with real discipline, is what separates hype from legacy.

And the comparison to Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift? It’s not lost on them. “Yeah, MLB is kind of trying to market us like that,” Skenes told Esquire. “It’s bringing her more fans and helping me too.” But they’re not leaning into drama. This isn’t a spectacle-it’s a strategy.

Whether it’s in a beam routine or a bullpen session, Dunne and Skenes are writing a new kind of playbook for athletes in the NIL era: part performance, part precision, and a whole lot of staying grounded.