Now we all know that Simone Biles is the GOAT—no debate there. And last year, Olivia Dunne had no problem saying it loud and clear. “This is like her revenge tour,” Livvy said in July 2024, hyping up Simone’s long-anticipated return to Olympic glory in Paris. “What happened in 2020 was a freak thing, and I think that she’s out for revenge, and she’s gonna probably win.” But what started as simple support seems to have taken a wrong turn. Good ol’ internet took no time in tearing into Dunne for this. While for some it felt as if LSU’s golden girl was downplaying Biles’ struggles, others were there just for the sake of it. But what if we tell you that both Dunne and Biles have more in common than you think? How so?

Well, we know that their gymnastics styles and career paths are wildly different. While one is the most decorated gymnast in history, the other is an NCAA sensation turned social media powerhouse. But both have faced constant scrutiny—Simone for her dominance and decisions, Livvy for her fame beyond the sport. And there are a few more. And yet, somehow, both gymnasts’ paths go in different directions.

We’ll come to that later. But before that, let us concentrate on the similarities. Such as? On April 1, Sam Schube shared an article on Olivia Dunne under GQ Sports. However, the article has a few pointers that explain the similarities between Simone and Olivia. The major one? Livvy’s homeschooling experience is to follow her gymnastics dream.

The article claims, “She [Olivia] didn’t have a regular high school experience either—she opted for homeschooling to support her gymnastics pursuit.” And Simone was the same. Three years ago, in her interaction with WSJ. Style, Biles said, “In that aspect, going to public school, hanging out with friends, and going to school dances. I was homeschooled; I didn’t get to do any of that.” And this is just one. There are a few more similarities.

When we talk about two of the biggest names in gymnastics, certain things about their routines stand out. Take Olivia Dunne, for example. At last year’s Podium Challenge, she delivered a stunning floor routine, earning an almost perfect 9.900. Throughout the season, she kept her average on the floor at an impressive 9.857—proof of her consistency and ability to perform under pressure.

But when you hear “floor exercise,” doesn’t another name immediately come to mind? Simone Biles, of course. In the elite gymnastics world, she reigns supreme in the event, pushing the boundaries of difficulty with skills that most gymnasts wouldn’t dare attempt. And even in her return to Olympic competition last year in Paris, she walked away with a silver medal on the floor—another reminder of her dominance.

Yet, beyond the tumbling passes and stuck landings, there’s another area where both Simone and Olivia have made waves: social media. With multi-millions of followers across platforms, they’ve turned gymnastics into more than just a sport—it’s a brand, a business, and a movement. Their influence reaches far beyond the mats. But for all their success, both have also faced their fair share of struggles.

Criticism, scrutiny, and personal challenges have followed them every step of the way. Their journeys may be different, but in a world that often puts female athletes under an unforgiving microscope, Olivia and Simone share more than just their sport—they share the battle to rise above it all.

Simone Biles and Olivia Dunne faced a similar curse

“I wanted to go to the Olympics, compete for the USA, and make the USA National Team—wear the USA gear and just go to different countries and stuff,” Olivia Dunne said to GQ Sports. “I figured that would be cool.” Of course, it would have been. For a while, it looked like she was on track to make that dream a reality.

Month after month, she packed her bags and flew to Texas, joining the best young gymnasts in the country at the legendary but grueling Karolyi Ranch. There, under the watchful eyes of some of the sport’s most decorated coaches, she pushed through exhausting days, chasing perfection on the bars, beam, floor, and vault. The pressure was relentless, the expectations sky-high. But isn’t it the same place where Simone Biles was trained? Yes.

Remember, the road to Olympic glory isn’t a straight path. Injuries, changing priorities, and the evolving landscape of gymnastics led Dunne down a different route. Mainly, the grueling training harmed her ankles, and the shutdown of Karolyi Ranch in 2018 because of multiple issues doubled the effect. So, see, there was a time when Livvy and Simone shared the same gymnastics training facility.

Yet, for Dunne, her route didn’t end in the Olympics but still made her one of the most recognizable names in the sport. Today, she’s not just a gymnast—she’s a brand, a phenomenon, a millionaire before even graduating from college. Her story isn’t one of failure but of reinvention. Because sometimes, the dream changes. And sometimes, that turns out to be even cooler.