Cecile Landi has been one of the biggest names in US gymnastics, having coached the GOAT, Simone Biles, and two of the gold-winning Team USA Paris squad members—Simone and Jordan Chiles. After taking the World Champions Center to new heights, Landi decided it was time for a change of scenery. Enter Georgia GymDogs, where expectations were through the roof for the five-star coach to bring home glory. But as it turns out, the journey so far has been a bit more of a bumpy ride than expected.

Most recently, on January 12, 2025, the GymDogs took a tough hit at the Denver Quad Meet. Currently sitting in second-to-last place with just 195.975 points, they’ve got some work to do. Over on X (formerly Twitter), an account called ‘Grace Ainger’ posted the standings after SEC Week 2, showing just where the GymDogs stand: “SEC GYM STANDINGS WEEK 2 OU: 197.950 (MIZ next opponent) LSU: 197.650 Bama: 197.025 Auburn: 196.775 Florida: 196.675 Kentucky: 196.500 Mizzou: 196.125 Georgia: 195.975 Ark: 195.875.”

The newly commenced season had one of the most thrilling showdowns when the No. 1 Oklahoma gymnastics team absolutely dominated the second session of the second annual Sprouts Farmer’s Market Collegiate Quad on Saturday afternoon at the Paycom Center in downtown Oklahoma City, posting a jaw-dropping 197.950.

LSU wasn’t far behind, coming in second with 197.650, while No. 6 Cal and No. 4 Utah rounded out the top four with 197.275 and 196.800, respectively. The Sooners led from start to finish, with standout performances on bars (49.700), beam (49.525), and floor (49.525). Meanwhile, Georgia had a solid run for their second meet of the season, but it wasn’t quite enough to crack the top spots.

On Sunday, the GymDogs made their season debut at the Denver Quad Meet, marking their first meet under the guidance of co-head coaches Cecile Landi and Ryan Roberts. Several GymDogs made their NCAA debuts, including junior Csenge Bácskay on vault and floor, graduate Anaya Smith on vault, and freshmen Emma Mason, Brooke Gleichowski, Nyla Aquino, and Sadie Jane Berry across a variety of events.

Despite putting on a good show, the GymDogs finished third with a team score of 195.975, falling short of a top-five position in the standings of gymnastics teams in the Southeastern Conference (SEC) after the second week of competition. They went up against No. 11 Denver, No. 5 Missouri, and Long Island. In the first rotation, Denver scored 49.250 on vault, Mizzou scored 49.125 on uneven bars, Georgia earned 48.325 on balance beam, and LIU finished with 46.750 on floor exercise. The second rotation saw LIU score 47.650 on vault, Denver post 49.200 on uneven bars, Mizzou tallied 48.575 on the balance beam, and Georgia score 49.000 on floor exercise.

During the third rotation, the Cecile Landi-trained squad, Georgia earned 49.300 on vault, LIU posted 47.700 on uneven bars, Denver scored 49.125 on balance beam, and Mizzou tallied 49.450 on floor exercise. In the fourth rotation, Mizzou scored 48.975 on vault, Georgia earned 49.350 on uneven bars, LIU posted 45.975 on balance beam, and Denver finished on floor exercise, but their total is not provided. And while they didn’t take the top spot, it’s important to note that the season is still young.

Now, when a coach of Cecile Landi’s caliber comes over as an assistant, the expectations are massive. And with the GymDogs not hitting it out of the park in their first two meets, all eyes are turning to the star coach. But let’s pump the brakes a little. It’s just week two, and Georgia is trailing by less than two points from the top-ranked Sooners. Plus, this was their first meet with Landi at the helm—plenty of time for them to hit their stride.

After all, handing down a verdict on a coach like Landi just two weeks in might be a little too quick, right? Especially when Landi herself has made it clear that being part of the NCAA scene has been her dream for a long time. Following her Paris Olympics triumph with Team USA, the French coach made the announcement, saying, “I’ve always said I wanted to be an NCAA coach one day.”

And Cecile Landi wasn’t just talking the talk. Landi’s NCAA dreams came with a big price tag—she made some serious sacrifices to get here. As the head coach of Georgia, she’s had to cut ties with her former stars like Simone Biles and Jordan Chiles, meaning no texting, no calling—nothing! While she could still meet them in person, not being able to connect virtually is a pretty big hurdle. With that kind of dedication, it might be a little too soon to write her off based on just Week 2’s performance. On the flip side, the other coach seems to have complete faith in the GymDogs after their showing at the Denver Quad.

Georgia GymDogs’ co-head coach expresses faith in the squad post-meet at the Denver Quad Meet

Team Georgia GymDogs kicked off their season with a mix of fresh faces, standout performances, and a new era of leadership under co-head coaches Cécile Canqueteau-Landi and Ryan Roberts. Sunday’s meet showcased the grit and potential of a team determined to reclaim its place among the NCAA’s elite. With several athletes making their Georgia or NCAA debuts and others delivering career-best scores, the GymDogs are already turning heads as they aim to shake off last season’s struggles. 

Cecile Landi, guiding Simone Biles and Team USA to unparalleled success at the 2024 Paris Olympics, has now turned her focus to revitalizing Georgia’s gymnastics program. Her journey with the GymDogs began in August 2024, taking the reins after Courtney Kupets’ departure. Paired with Roberts, who provided stability during the coaching transition, Landi’s arrival has energized fans and athletes alike. “Throughout my life, gymnastics has provided me some extraordinary opportunities,” Landi stated, emphasizing her commitment to athlete well-being and excellence. However, their first meet under her guidance wasn’t up to the mark of what fans expected.

Despite early stumbles on the beam, the GymDogs rebounded with standout routines on vault and bars, securing top team scores in both events. Junior Ja’ Free Scott set a career-best 9.875 on vault, while sophomore Ady Wahl and Lily Smith claimed individual titles, solidifying their roles as key contributors. “We saw a lot of grit and resilience,” Roberts said, praising the team’s ability to rally after adversity.

Now, as the GymDogs prepare to host Boise State on Friday, Jan. 17, excitement continues to build around the new era of leadership and talent. Can this revamped squad, led by a world-renowned coach, bring back the glory days to Athens? Thus, with their start getting a little botched, Cecile Landi and Co. will surely want to turn things around in the future.