Pittsburgh Pirates star pitcher Paul Skenes has revealed that a recent trip with his girlfriend, social media sensation and LSU gymnast Livvy Dunne, profoundly shifted his perspective on his fast-paced baseball career and life itself. The couple embarked on a two-day USO tour in late November, visiting sailors aboard the USS Gerald R. Ford and the USS Mahan.
An Immersive Experience Aboard Naval Vessels
The visit was far more than a simple meet-and-greet. Skenes and Dunne immersed themselves in the daily reality of life at sea, interacting with more than 1,300 sailors. They shared meals, signed autographs, and listened to the crew's stories. For Skenes, a 23-year-old who grew up in a military family and attended the Air Force Academy, the environment felt familiar. He told PEOPLE magazine that the Navy's disciplined, mission-focused atmosphere "brought me back", reminding him of a place where individuals from diverse backgrounds unite for a common goal.
Livvy Dunne, who joined the tour after Skenes shared the opportunity, admitted she didn't know what to expect. She was deeply moved by the openness and warmth of the service members. Her most cherished moments were the simple, human connections: sitting with sailors, talking over food, and learning about their routines on the massive ships. Dunne reflected on how these men and women perform "incredible things overseas" often without widespread recognition.
Handstand Challenges and Humble Realisations
The tour wasn't without its lighter moments. At one point, Dunne, leveraging her gymnastic prowess, engaged a sailor in a friendly handstand challenge. Paul Skenes wisely opted out, joking, "I've never done a handstand. That's a bad idea." However, the overarching tone of the visit was one of introspection. Meeting sailors as young as 18 or 19 years old, fully committed to their demanding roles, prompted Skenes to contemplate his own purpose and discipline.
Coming off a spectacular season where he clinched the prestigious Cy Young Award and saw his MLB profile skyrocket, Skenes said the experience helped him "slow down" and "put things in perspective." He realized that while baseball is immensely important to him, "the world is bigger than sports." Witnessing the sailors' clear sense of duty helped him reconnect with his own "why" as he prepares for another grueling major league season.
A Meaningful Gesture for Service Members
Jennifer Wahlquist of the USO highlighted the significance of such visits. Bringing popular figures like Skenes and Dunne onboard serves as a powerful reminder to deployed service members that their work and sacrifices are valued and remembered by people back home. For the young couple, the late-November tour was more than a goodwill gesture; it was a life lesson in humility, service, and grounding one's success within a larger framework. The trip, agreed to instantly by Skenes, ultimately provided a poignant counterbalance to the glamour and pressure of professional sports.
