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Paul Skenes and Olivia Dunne have been one of the most notable power couples in sports since they started dating after meeting at LSU. However, the gymnastics phenom apparently had second thoughts about jumping into the relationship because the Pirates pitcher couldn’t take the time to press a button on Instagram.
It’s been close to two years since the world learned LSU gymnast and social media sensation Olivia Dunne had a new man in her life in the form of Paul Skenes, the ace who’d recently helped his the Tigers win the College World Series during a standout season that ended with him being drafted by the Pirates with the first overall pick in the 2023 MLB Draft.
Skenes is decidedly more reserved than the girlfriend who’s racked up more than five million followers on Instagram (and another eight million on TikTok), but he’s been forced to learn to adjust to the spotlight she’s spent her college career thriving in after living up to the hype during his first season in Pittsburgh en route to earning his first All-Star Game nod and National League Rookie of the Year honors.
The couple recently sat down with GQ to pull the curtain back while discussing the logistical issues that come with pursuing two successful careers in the realm of athletics as well as the origins of the relationship that began when they were both attending school in Baton Rouge.
Dunne said she “had ambition to get to know” Skenes after they attended a Morgan Wallen concert with some friends before he eventually wised up and asked her to grab some ice cream with him, but the 22-year-old commonly referred to as “Livvy” noted there was one red flag toward the beginning, saying:
“He wouldn’t follow me back on Instagram. I was like, ‘Who is this kid and why won’t he follow me back?'”
Skenes came to his own defense by noting he had an Instagram account but rarely used it before eventually realizing it would be in his best interest to pull the trigger on the follow.
It also sounds like he’s still fairly averse to social media, as he noted his Instagram is currently run by someone who knows a thing or two about the platform: his girlfriend.