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Pittsburgh Pirates star Paul Skenes and national champion gymnast Olivia Dunne have been favorites of the baseball world since they officially announced their relationship a few years ago.
But the long-distance nature of their relationship could add extra pressure to the young lovebirds as they begin their lives together. Anyone who has ever been in a similar situation would agree.
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Paul Skenes of the Pittsburgh Pirates watches the selection show with his girlfriend Olivia Dunne during the announcement of the 2024 ROY National League Jackie Robinson Rookie of the Year Award on November 18, 2024 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. (Lucas Casel/MLB Photos via Getty Images)
Dunne opened up to People in February about how the two were approaching the potential hurdle.
“Honestly, I don’t think we have any rules. I just think being super present with each other while you’re together, while you have that time together, is super important,” she told the magazine. “I mean, he makes time to come to my events. I make time to watch him pitch. I try to make as many starts as I can.”
“We’re both so busy that we understand if the other can’t be there for everything, but I think we really value the time we spend together and are super present in every moment.”
Dunne has been regularly seen at Pirates games, whether in Pittsburgh or on tour on the East Coast, cheering on Skenes.
LIVVY DUNNE CONFRONTS HER BOYFRIEND PAUL SKENES IN THE ‘ULTIMATE TEST OF TRUST’ DURING BULLPEN SESSION
Olivia Dunne applauds while watching the game between the New York Mets and the Pittsburgh Pirates at Citi Field on May 12, 2025. (Brad Penner/Image Images)
He was also with him when he won the National League Rookie of the Year Award in 2024 and, last year, when he won the National League Cy Young Award.
The two started dating in 2023 and she revealed in April 2025 that it almost never happened.
Dunne revealed in an interview with GQ magazine that the relationship almost didn’t happen. She said Skenes did not follow her on Instagram.
“He wouldn’t follow me on Instagram,” she said.
Skenes told GQ that he rarely used Instagram at the time Dunne followed him.
Pirates pitcher Paul Skenes enters from the bullpen before the game against the Oakland Athletics at PNC Park in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, on September 21, 2025. (Charles LeClaire/Image Images)
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“I thought, Who is this kid and why isn’t he following me?” he told the outlet.
The pitcher said he knew who Dunne was at the time, while the gymnast didn’t really know who the baseball player was but wondered who the “tall, mysterious man who never smiles” was. They explained that Skenes was more of a “reserved” man and Dunne was more outgoing, but that didn’t stop their pursuit of each other.
