“Simone (Biles’) Retirement”: Gymnastics World Worried After Coach Cecile Landi’s Georgia Decision

Is Simone Biles going to retire after the 2024 Paris Olympics? This question is keeping her fans on their toes after her coach, Cecile Canqueteau-Landi, decided to move to Athens in Georgia. While she does not have much experience when it comes to collegiate gymnastics, her success in professional gymnastics is remarkable.

Therefore, she secured the position ahead of some veteran NCAA coaches like Jordyn Wieber (the Razorbacks’ coach), Owen Field (the Gators’ assistant coach), and Tim Garrison (the Kentucky coach). For several years, the French gymnastics veteran, along with her husband Laurent, brought out some of the best gymnasts in the nation. Simone Biles, Jordan Chiles, Alyssa Baumann, and Joscelyn Roberson are a few in that lineup.

Understandably, with the Olympics a few months away, it is high time for the coaching duo and their athletes to work hard. But with the sudden departure of Cecile Landi, things seem to be in the deep water now. However, WCC has come out clean on the matter. In its latest notice, the gymnastics training facility has promised to unveil a new name for Cecile’s position by June 1. 

Cecile has been like a pillar to Simone, especially when Simone had to back out of the Tokyo Olympics because of the twisties. Interestingly, Simone had even talked of her retirement after the Tokyo Olympics. “I am in pain most of the time… I definitely plan for the Tokyo Olympics to be my last,” Biles said. “I feel like my body’s gone through a lot and it’s kind of just falling apart,” she has confessed. But right before the 2020 Olympics, it was Cecile and her husband who convinced Biles to come back after Tokyo and participate in Paris.

Back then, solely focusing on Tokyo, the gymnast said, “Cecile and Laurent are from Paris, so they’ve kind of guilted me into coming back as a specialist. But the main goal is the Olympics first, then the tour [Simone’s planned tour around the US after Tokyo], and then we’ll have to see.” 

As Simone is all set to fulfill that Parisian dream of the Landis, one of them leaves her side. Therefore, some fans went on to argue that with the pillar gone, this might be the end of Simone Biles as well. Her retirement thoughts loomed large amid this. But isn’t it the best time for Simone Biles to bow out of the sport with her head high?

NCAA or retirement: What waits for Simone Biles? Fans argue

Simone Biles’ NCAA stint was short-lived. She had committed to the UCLA Bruins back in 2014. But then she figured out her love for pro gymnastics. That made her withdraw from the program and the rest is history. But in an interview with Leah Faye Cooper of Vanity Fair, she even shared, “I just wanted to try to do college gymnastics.” Amid Cecile Landi’s move, fans seriously brought up that possibility with one fan enquiring if Simone still has NCAA eligibility.

As per the notification from WCC, Laurent Landi will remain at the WCC in the future. That added fuel to several questions. A fan expressed, “I’m severely surprised. How will that work being states away from your husband for months, is that why it’s co head coaches so she can go back and forth. Does this mean we can expect a Simone retirement after the olyimpics. What about their daughter , or is she off to college next year? I have so many questions.”

“For me this is a confirmation that Simone is retiring after this Olympic Games. Otherwise it means she’s starting her college gymnastics era, at Georgia, of course,” opined another fan.

Simone has achieved it all. Above everything, she has even established her ability to fight back, which is probably one of the most prominent seals in her GOAT status. Simone herself realizes that as well, “I’m kind of at the age where I’ve been, I don’t really have any more regrets ’cause I’m a little bit older, I’m more mature. I, everything I’ve done has kind of been on like my time,” she had conceded. Further, the age factor is also there.

Simone will be 31 by the time her next Olympics run takes place. It is not an age very favorable for a sport like gymnastics. So the retirement thoughts might not be absolutely baseless. However, there are some exceptions. Remember Oksana Chusovitina of Uzbekistan? She competed at the Tokyo Olympics at age 46 and that was her eighth appearance. But this is a rarity.

Simone Biles has been known to have congratulated Cecile on her new assignment. But this can undoubtedly be a game changer ahead of the Olympics. On Reddit, a fan echoed that sentiment, saying, “I wonder how Simone, and all the other WCC athletes are feeling.” Cecile had become almost synonymous with Simone.

Another fan shared, “With as many elites as they have, I imagine they’ll hire another elite coach, but my first thought is wondering if this is a signal that Simone is retiring after this season.”

“This isn’t just a simple coaching announcement to us… like I’d really love some context. Either way I’m very curious to see how this all plays out,” commented a fan. As Cecile lands with another success in her kitty, people are curious about Simone’s career ahead. What are your thoughts about that?