Athens, Georgia, had a special guest this weekend—Simone Biles. With her husband, NFL star Jonathan Owens, by her side, the 11-time Olympic medalist stepped into Stegeman Coliseum, not to compete but to take it all in from the stands. But this wasn’t just any visit; it didn’t take long for someone special to notice—someone who’s been a huge part of Biles’ journey. And when they did? Let’s just say their response made this trip a little more meaningful.

Biles had a day out in Georgia! And she made sure everyone noticed! The 7-time Olympic Gold Medalist shared a bunch of photos—some with her husband, NFL safety Jonathan Owens, and one that stood out, with her standing next to Cecile Canqueteau-Landi, her coach of eight years, now co-head coach of Georgia gymnastics, which she captioned “A weekend in Athens. Go Dawgs ❤️,” Then came Cecile’s response, an Instagram story overflowing with warmth. “Loved having you here with Jonathan!! You’re welcome back anytime 😘❤️🖤,” she wrote. 

Simone Biles’ weekend in Athens wasn’t an isolated visit—it was part of something bigger. Last month, she was in Georgia at the sold-out Stegeman Coliseum. A cheering crowd came to celebrate Olympians and alumni. Biles attended the GymDogs’ match against Boise State, but more importantly, she was there for Cecile Canqueteau-Landi, with whom her bond started in 2017 when Canqueteau-Landi and her husband, Laurent, joined the coaching staff at the World Champions Elite Centre, the Texas-based facility owned by Biles’ parents.

Over the years, they’ve built more than just routines—they’ve built history. From the heartbreak of Tokyo 2021 to the triumph of Paris 2024, where Biles clinched three golds and a silver, Canqueteau-Landi was always in her corner. Biles and Cecile Canqueteau-Landi’s bond, built on trust, resilience, and deep understanding, had transcended the coach-athlete relationship. So, when their paths diverged last year, it wasn’t just another coaching change. It hit hard for Biles, Cecile, and everyone who had seen their journey.

Cecile Landi’s farewell and Simone Biles’ heartfelt tribute

Simone Biles and her longtime coach, Cecile Landi, parted ways after Biles’s triumphant Paris 2024 campaign, which included 3 Olympic golds and one silver. 1996 Olympian Landi then announced her departure from the World Champions Centre, moving to Georgia for a new opportunity. The split was amicable, with Biles supporting the decision. “I’m so happy for you. You need to go,” Biles told Landi.

Biles then shared an emotional Instagram post: “End of an era. It’s not a goodbye, it’s a see you later.” Their connection wasn’t just about gymnastics. It was trust, belief, and having each other’s backs—especially when things got tough. Tokyo 2020? A nightmare for Biles; she experienced the twisties, and suddenly, was lost mid-air, but Landi? She never pressured or panicked but prioritized her mental well-being.

“I think we try to listen a little bit more to the athletes because mental health was not real in the nineties for me,” she recalled. “It was, ‘You are lazy, you just don’t want to do it,’ or any kind of things like that they would say to us,” she said to Olympics.com last year, further adding, “Mental health became more and more [important] in the past five years, I would say, with the scandal in USA Gymnastics and all those athletes that were abused, that’s when we saw that it did affect them way more than we ever thought.”

 And look at what followed! A comeback for the ages—World Championships in 2023, four more Olympic medals in Paris. Through it all, Landi was there, quietly making sure Biles found her way back.