Remember how Simone Biles triumphantly turned things around at the 2024 Paris Olympics? The 27-year-old claimed four medals at the French capital. She won three golds in the team all-around, women’s vault, and individual all-around, along with one silver in the floor exercise finals. However, none of this would have been possible without her gymnastics coach, Cecile Landi. She has been an instrumental part of the G.O.A.T.’s return to the mat. 

However, after helping the 7x Olympic gold medalist crush it at Bercy Arena, the 45-year-old stepped out of her comfort zone at WCC for something equally challenging. She is stepping into the NCAA circuit as the co-head coach for the University of Georgia. Even though the coach always wanted to pursue this, Landi encountered a few minor bumps as she settled into her new position. What could they be, you ask?

Cecile Landi opens up about the challenges she’s encountered so far

While the veteran coach was busy coaching Simone Biles through her redemption tour in the French capital, Georgia University broke the news of her next step over social media. She will receive nearly $340,000 for the coaching gig alongside Ryan Roberts. However, it has been quite a different experience so far. On December 18, Cecile Landi appeared on the Flipping Out with Bridget Sloan podcast. When the host asked her if she had to make any adjustments from a coaching standpoint, Landi didn’t hold back. “So, at first, we were in eight hours a week training, like we could require. So, it was very strange for me,” she admitted.

During her time at the WCC, the coach and Simone Biles used to put in about 6 hours in total preparing for the Paris Olympics. While the hours haven’t increased by much, the 45-year-old wasn’t used to this change. However, the gymnasts at the University of Georgia surprised her. The coach exclaimed how they wanted to train more and stay longer for the same. “So, for me, it’s all the rules and what mostly cannot do is really what I have to figure it out,” she stated.

But that isn’t all. While Cecile Landi enjoyed her time as an elite coach, collegiate gymnastics is slightly different. The 45-year-old explained how she doesn’t have the freedom to change practice like she used to due to the rules. Apart from this, she often wondered if she could do a certain task, even when it comes to social media. This is because certain interactions require approvals. Even though she doesn’t have to ask for permission for everything, it’s a change nonetheless. 

Even though the veteran coach is new to the NCAA landscape, she has been confident about one thing: the sport itself. “The gymnastics part of it, now we’re back to the 20 hours a week, and I feel like it’s plenty of hours for the athletes. So, it’s been really good,” she exclaimed. For her, there have been no changes in technical and gymnastics aspects. On the other hand, Landi jokingly admitted that she had never had so many meetings. While she’s stepped away from elite gymnastics, how did the coach help Simone Biles make a triumphant return?

The 45-year-old holds the G.O.A.T. to a high standard

The world witnessed the 11x Olympic medalist’s harrowing experience in the Japanese capital. After suffering from a debilitating case of the twisties, the 27-year-old gracefully stepped away from the mat. After that gut-wrenching moment, Biles didn’t think she would return to the sport. However, things changed when the Olympian met Cecile Landi for a cozy dinner at a Mexican restaurant. The gymnast told the veteran coach she wanted to give herself another shot, and that’s how it began.

But here’s the thing. The coach has been right by the 27-year-old’s side from the very beginning. Cecile and Laurent Landi began coaching Simone Biles in 2017 after the G.O.A.T. approached them. Even though they wanted to open their own gym, the duo knew they would never get the chance to coach the world’s greatest gymnast again. That’s how their epic partnership came to light. In fact, the Olympian is extremely grateful for their support too.

When Biles decided to gear up for the Paris Olympics, Cecile and Laurent Landi helped her return to the gym and focused on her mental and physical capabilities. The coaches have never been about the old-school “push through the pain” mantra. The 45-year-old knew that would never work for the G.O.A.T. The veteran coach believed everyone wanted to see how they could help the 7x Olympic gold medalist get better. However, here’s the thing. While the 27-year-old has always been the greatest, the coach helped her push beyond expectations. 

Before parting ways with the WCC, Cecile Landi reflected on what makes Simone Biles the greatest. “She’s calm, she laughs, she’s back to her sometimes goofy self that we had missed a few times. She has a few tools that are personal to her, which help her stay calm and remember why she’s here and how to think positively,” she confessed. It’s this support that proved instrumental in the Olympian’s incredible performance at the French capital. While you’ve enjoyed the 45-year-old’s time in elite gymnastics, are you looking forward to her NCAA debut?