The headlines hit in April last year: Cecile Canqueteau-Landi, one-half of the legendary coaching team behind Olympic icon Simone Biles, was preparing to make a major move. She was set to leave the Houston gym owned by Biles’ parents for a prestigious new role in college gymnastics. The University of Georgia proudly announced that Canqueteau-Landi and Ryan Roberts would be stepping in as co-head coaches of its gymnastics program. But there was a twist—Canqueteau-Landi wouldn’t begin her college duties until August, as she was still slated to stand by Biles’ side at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris. Cecile and her husband, Laurent Landi, had been Biles’ trusted coaches since 2017—the same year they took charge of the women’s artistic gymnastics program at World Champions Centre, the facility founded by Simone’s parents in Spring, Texas. But just when the dust seemed to settle, Simone’s mom, Nellie Biles, chimed in with a few words that added an extra layer to the story.
In a carefully worded statement, Nellie Biles confirmed that while Cecile Canqueteau-Landi would stay on at World Champions Centre (WCC) through July, her husband, Laurent, would remain as head of the women’s program—for now. A replacement to coach alongside Laurent was expected to be in place by June 1, but Nellie emphasized they wouldn’t rush the process. Still, the writing was on the wall: Laurent, too, was preparing to step away. That meant one thing—WCC, the elite gymnastics powerhouse founded by Simone Biles’ family, was heading toward a seismic transformation after the Paris Olympics. Among those caught in the aftershocks? Rising star Tiana Sumanasekera.
A year earlier, Tiana had placed eighth in the All-Around at the Olympic Trials, earning a spot as an alternate for Team USA. It was a proud achievement—but as the Olympics loomed, she knew her training home at WCC wouldn’t look the same once the Games were over. Would she be able to adapt? Speaking to Inside Gymnastics, Tiana reflected on the uncertainty: “I think big coaching changes are difficult for everybody,” she said. “Growing up with certain coaches and being trained by them for so long is definitely difficult.” For Tiana—and many others at WCC—the post-Olympic era wouldn’t just be a new chapter. It would be a whole new book.
The report is developing…
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