You’ve seen the clip. It usually starts with a black leotard, a flash of LSU purple and gold, and Olivia "Livvy" Dunne hoisting herself into a gravity-defying handstand split on a four-inch piece of wood. It looks effortless. Almost too easy. But if you’ve ever tried to balance on one foot while putting on socks, you know that doing a full split upside down on a balance beam is basically a physics miracle.
Honestly, it's the kind of content that breaks the internet. People love to argue about whether Olivia Dunne is "just a social media star" or a "real athlete." But then she drops a video of a press handstand into a perfect 180-degree split on the beam, and the debate usually dies down for a second. That specific move—the olivia dunne handstand splits balance beam sequence—is actually a masterclass in core strength and "blind" spatial awareness.
The Viral Moment That Had Everyone Googling
Back in late 2024, heading into her final season with the LSU Tigers, Dunne posted a TikTok that reminded her 8 million followers why she’s a scholarship athlete at one of the best gymnastics programs in the country. She didn't just kick up into a handstand. She started from the floor, pressed her body weight through her palms, and floated into a vertical split.
It wasn't just for show.
While she's known for her All-American honors on the uneven bars, her beam work has always been technically sound. In that specific video, she holds the split for a beat—showing off what gymnasts call "active flexibility"—before lowering her legs with total control. It’s that control that gets you the high scores. Or in her case, millions of views.
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Why a Handstand Split on the Beam Is a Nightmare to Master
Most people think the hardest part of the beam is the backflips. Sure, a back handspring-layout series is terrifying. But a handstand split? That’s where you find out if your "lines" are actually good.
- Grip and Rip: You aren't just placing your hands on the beam; you're wrapping your thumbs around the sides to "grip" it. If your weight shifts a millimeter to the left, you're toast.
- The Blind Split: When you're upside down in a split, you can't see the beam. You have to feel where your center of gravity is.
- Core Compression: To get into that position from a seated or low start—like Livvy does in her training clips—requires insane abdominal strength. It’s not a "kick." It’s a slow, grueling press.
Dunne has been doing this since her elite days at ENA Paramus. If you look back at her junior elite footage from 2017, you’ll see the same precision. She’s always had a "long" look on beam, which basically means her legs look like they go on forever, making any split position look even more dramatic to the judges.
Breaking Down the Difficulty
Is it an "E" level skill? No. In the world of NCAA gymnastics, a standard handstand on the beam is a basic requirement, but it’s the execution where Dunne shines. During the 2024-2025 season, LSU was under a microscope. Every point mattered. When Livvy stepped up for her beam exhibition or lineup spots, she wasn't just trying to stay on; she was trying to be perfect.
I remember watching her 2021 beam exhibition against Georgia. She was a freshman then, and you could see the elite background in how she handled the switch leaps. She’s always been more than a bar specialist. Her career-high on beam might not be a 10.0, but her consistency is what made her a reliable "backup" and occasional starter for a national championship-winning team.
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The "Livvy" Effect on Technical Gymnastics
Social media has a weird way of making difficult things look like hobbies. Because Dunne is the highest-paid female college athlete, people forget she spends six hours a day in a chalk-filled gym. When she performs a handstand split, she’s demonstrating a level of flexibility that 99% of the population will never achieve.
It’s also about the "Dunne" skill. Not many people know this, but earlier in her career, she actually had a skill she wanted to get named after her: a switch leap with a half turn landing on one foot. It didn't quite make the official Code of Points with her name on it, but it shows she’s always been a "beam girl" at heart.
Training Like a Tiger: Can You Actually Do This?
If you’re sitting at home thinking, "I could probably do a handstand split," please don't try it on your coffee table. Even for Livvy, this starts with:
- Wall Drills: Getting the vertical alignment perfect so the spine doesn't arch.
- Floor Splits: You need a "true" 180-degree split before you ever take it to the air.
- Low Beam Work: Doing the handstand on a beam that's only two inches off the ground to build the "feel."
The Final Bow at LSU
As Dunne wrapped up her fifth-year senior season in 2025, those viral clips of her training in the LSU locker room or the practice gym became a sort of highlight reel for her legacy. She managed to bridge the gap between "internet famous" and "athletically elite."
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The olivia dunne handstand splits balance beam videos aren't just "thirst traps" or clout-chasing; they are records of a girl who has been elite since she was 11 years old. Whether she's posting a 9.9 on bars or a viral clip on beam, the technique is the same. It's years of falling, chalky hands, and thousands of hours on a four-inch piece of wood.
What to Watch for Next
If you’re following her post-college career, keep an eye on her technical training. While she might be moving into more media-heavy roles, she often returns to these "foundational" skills. The handstand split remains her signature "flex"—literally and figuratively.
For those looking to improve their own balance, start by mastering a standard handstand on a flat line on the floor. Once you can hold that for 30 seconds without wobbling, you'll have about 5% of the skill needed to do what Livvy does on the beam. Focus on keeping your head neutral and your shoulders "open" to avoid tumbling off the side.
Actionable Insight: To build the core strength required for a press handstand split, incorporate "hollow body holds" and "L-sits" into your daily routine. These exercises mimic the compression needed to lift your lower body into a vertical position without using momentum.