The Paris Olympics brought a delightful sight for the gymnastics fans, especially from the United States, who were waiting for the arrival of Simone Biles on the biggest stage of the sport. Indeed, the comeback was worth it, as she secured three gold medals and a silver medal in the French capital. However, it couldn’t have been possible if she or Team USA didn’t have a supporting coach like Cecile Landi by their side.

Indeed, Landi made her contribution in her own way by training these talents to the top step of the podium. But what’s a season without a surprise? Right after the Olympic Games, the beloved Team USA women’s gymnastics coach said farewell to the golden girls and was ready to embark on her journey as an NCAA coach for the University of Georgia. Recently, after the Gymdogs had a terrible first meet, she had nothing but appreciation for the work that her team put into the NCAA competition.

As always standing with her girls

Coaching talents such as Simone Biles, bidding farewell to the international scene, and guiding young talents in college is indeed a significant milestone. And is something as honorable as it sounds. When Cecile Landi joined the University of Georgia, her students, including Biles herself, experienced a range of emotions, all wanting her to succeed in her new endeavor. Georgia Gymdogs were also excited to welcome someone like her as a coach, owing to her large expertise in the sport.

However, things during the Denver Quad Meet didn’t go that well for the Gymdogs, as they finished third in the four-team event, ahead of Long Island and behind Denver and Missouri. Despite the team receiving a lot of criticism for their poor performance at such a prestigious event, their coach responded with positivity. Reposting Ryan Roberts’ Instagram post, Landi shared her candid thoughts on the Gymdogs, stating, “First meet ✔️ Proud of this team ❤️🖤”

Indeed, Landi was clearly aware of the Gymdogs’ performance, but she was determined not to further discourage her team. She is a coach who has experienced many highs and lows, and even though her team didn’t perform well in their first meet of the NCAA season, it didn’t bother her. Surely, the campaign is long, and there will be not just one but many opportunities waiting for the squad to get back up and perform at their very best. 

So what were the scores? The GymDogs finish up their season opener with a 195.975 at the Denver Quad Meet. And what about the other two teams that placed first and second? Denver was first with 196.575, and Missouri was second with 196.125. Indeed, Landi’s team could have achieved the top position with a little bit of teamwork, but the coach acknowledges that there is still a lot of work ahead.

However, she doesn’t have any plans to discourage her team just because of a single event. Landi arrived at the NCAA with a specific objective, and intends to achieve it without exerting pressure on her students. But did she always want to become an NCAA coach?

Cecile Landi had a target even after coaching Simone Biles and the team

After helping teams and individuals secure numerous Olympic medals, coaches typically retire and enjoy their retirement. However, Simone Biles’ former coach, Cecile Landi, had different plans. She wanted to take on the NCAA challenge, as she revealed on the Flipping Out with Bridget Sloan podcast, stating, “I’ve always said I wanted to be an NCAA coach one day. I just wanted to finish where we have started.” 

Indeed, Landi was just waiting for an opportunity, and the moment she saw the window, she immediately grabbed it. Could it be more accurate to say that someone grabbed her? When colleges learned that Biles’ former coach was seeking a position in the NCAA, many rushed toward her with offers. But Ryan Roberts, co-head coach of the Georgia GymDogs, was the one who caught her attention the most.

Many in the community are looking forward to what the future has to offer for her, and they are nothing but excited.