Former collegiate gymnast Livvy Dunne says staying “super present” during the time she spends with boyfriend Paul Skenes has helped the couple navigate the challenges of their long-distance relationship.
Dunne discussed their dynamic during an exclusive interview with PEOPLE, explaining how she and the Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher manage demanding schedules while keeping their relationship strong.
“Honestly, I don’t think we have any rules,” Dunne said. “I just think being super present with one another while you’re together, while you have that time together, is super important,” Dunne said.
Despite their busy calendars, both athletes make a point to support each other’s careers. “I mean, he makes time to come to my events. I make time to go watch him pitch. I try to make every start I can.”
The couple first met while attending Louisiana State University in 2023. Dunne competed for LSU’s gymnastics program from 2020 through 2025 before retiring from collegiate gymnastics, while Skenes emerged as one of college baseball’s top prospects before making his Major League Baseball debut in 2024.
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Dunne said having a mutual understanding of demanding schedules has played a major role in keeping the relationship strong. The former Louisiana State University gymnast noted that balancing busy professional commitments requires flexibility and appreciation for the time they are able to share.
“We both are so busy that we understand if one another can’t be there for everything, but I think just really valuing the time you spend together and being super present in every moment,” she said.
Livvy Dunne Reflects On How The Couple First Met At LSU
Livvy Dunne previously recalled the early days of their relationship during a 2024 appearance on LSU basketball player Flau’jae Johnson’s Best of Both Worlds podcast, describing how she first noticed Skenes on campus.
She revealed, “I would kind of see him around, and I was like, ‘Who is this tall guy — this tall mysterious man. I literally had no clue who he was, but I would just see him around.”
The couple publicly confirmed their relationship in August 2023 and have continued supporting each other’s careers since then. Dunne told PEOPLE in a 2025 interview that their relationship works in part because neither partner restricts the other’s activities.
She said, “We don’t restrict each other from doing things. I’ve been in relationships in the past like that — where it’s almost like you have a leash on you, you can’t do anything.”
The pair recently spent time together during the holidays. Dunne shared a TikTok on January 1 showing Skenes shaving off his mustache. She also accompanied him to the 101st New York Baseball Writers’ Gala on January 24, where he accepted the Cy Young Award.
Dunne described the event as a memorable evening for the couple and their families. “We had one of the best nights ever,” Dunne told PEOPLE on Feb. 7 about the gala outing.
She added, “I think Paul said it was one of the best nights of his life, not just because of the award, but our friends and family that were there, and we all just let loose, had a good time. And I don’t know, at the end of the night, I was acting like I won the damn award.”
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Skenes is currently preparing for the upcoming MLB season, and Dunne said she plans to visit him during spring training in Florida, where she hopes to spend time with him and cook for him while he prepares for the season.
