Gold medalist Simone Biles of the United States poses for photos with coaches Laurent Landi L and Cecile Canqueteau-Landi after the victory ceremony of Women’s All-around of artistic gymnastics at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France, Aug. 1, 2024. (Photo by Cao Can/Xinhua via Getty Images)
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Acclaimed Olympic gymnastics coaches Laurent Landi and Cécile Canqueteau-Landi will join forces in the NCAA for the 2027 season.
The University of Georgia announced its hiring of Laurent Landi as Associate Head Coach on Tuesday, reuniting Landi with his wife and current UGA head coach, Cécile Canqueteau-Landi, at the helm for the historic gymnastics program.
“The opportunity to work with Cecile again is something I’m truly excited about, and I look forward to helping push UGA to even greater heights,” Landi said. “Above all, I’m passionate about supporting our student-athletes, helping them believe in themselves, reach their goals, and thrive both as athletes and as young women.”
Both coaches were members of the French national team as athletes, and Canqueteau-Landi represented her home country at the 1996 Olympic Games. Since relocating to the United States in 2004, the pair has been the driving force behind the careers of multiple top U.S. gymnasts.
While working for the World Olympic Gymnastics Academy in Texas – the home to Olympic Champions Nastia Liukin and Carly Patterson – the Landis coached 2016 Olympic team gold medalist and uneven bars silver medalist Madison Kocian and 2014 World team champion Alyssa Baumann.
In 2017, the pair moved within Texas to lead the elite program at Simone Biles’ gym, the World Champions Centre (WCC). The duo then famously coached Biles to six Olympic medals and 16 world championship medals from 2018 to 2024.
PARIS, FRANCE – AUGUST 03: Simone Biles of Team United States celebrates with her coach Laurent Landi after finishing her routine during the Artistic Gymnastics Women’s Vault Final on day eight of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 at Bercy Arena on August 03, 2024 in Paris, France. (Photo by Naomi Baker/Getty Images)
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During their tenure, the Landis became the de facto coaching leaders of the U.S. elite women’s program, coaching over 13 national team members, including Olympic gold medalist Jordan Chiles and World team champion Joscelyn Roberson. Cécile and Laurent were inducted into the USA Gymnastics Hall of Fame in 2023, and Laurent was named the USAG Coach of the Year in 2022 and 2023.
Following their elite success, Canqueteau-Landi was named co-head coach of the then-struggling Georgia GymDogs in 2024.
Under Canqueteau-Landi and former co-head Coach Ryan Roberts, the nine-time NCAA Champion GymDogs returned to prominence after years of middling results. Under her guidance, the GymDogs made their first appearance in the NCAA National Championship Semifinals in seven seasons and concluded the 2026 season as the No. 6 program in the country.
The result was Georgia’s best since 2016 – and looks to be only the beginning. In his official university statement, Laurent praised the program’s “limitless potential.” With a young cohort of talent and top incoming recruits, the Georgia GymDogs look poised to climb even higher in 2027.
After years of delivering results on the world and Olympic stage, the Landis will reunite at the helm of one of the fastest-rising championship contenders in women’s college gymnastics.