Georgia made its intentions to climb back to its former place atop NCAA gymnastics crystal clear with the splashy hire of Simone Biles’ personal coach Cecile Canqueteau-Landi, who has worked with Biles since 2017 and also coached 2016 Olympic gold medalist Madison Kocian. Canqueteau-Landi will serve as the GymDogs’ co-head coach with Ryan Roberts, who has been with the program as an assistant over the last two seasons, the team announced Thursday.
We’re excited to announce the new leadership of Georgia Gymnastics!
Cecile Canqueteau-Landi and Ryan Roberts have been named co-head coaches of the GymDogs.
We can’t wait to get started!
➡️: https://t.co/WF1oHTWm3R
🎟️ Info: https://t.co/QL7NDBqTtY#GloryGlory | #GoDawgs pic.twitter.com/zT2ji94Yaf
— Georgia Gymnastics (@UGAGymnastics) April 25, 2024
Though Canqueteau-Landi has no previous collegiate coaching experience, she has guided multiple elite gymnasts to World Championship and Olympic podiums. Tokyo silver medalist and 2024 Olympic hopeful Jordan Chiles, who stepped up during the team finals event when Biles withdrew with the twisties, is also among Canqueteau-Landi’s athletes at the World Champions Centre, Biles’ gym. As an athlete, Canqueteau-Landi has Olympic experience of her own, having represented France during the 1996 Games.
“Throughout my life, gymnastics has provided me some extraordinary opportunities, from traveling the world and competing for my country at the Olympics to coaching amazing athletes at the highest level, Canqueteau-Landi said in a statement. “Those experiences have helped me become the coach that I am while putting athlete’s well-being first and helping them reach their full potential. I am thrilled for the opportunity to be the new co-head coach of the GymDogs with Ryan. I am looking forward to work with team in the near future!”
The leadership change comes after Georgia parted ways with former head coach Courtney Kupets-Carter on April 19. Kupets-Carter is a two-time 2004 Olympic medalist and former GymDogs star who found success in recruiting athletes to Athens but struggled to mold the GymDogs into a championship-caliber team. As the only team to boast 10 NCAA titles, the program is among the most decorated in collegiate gymnastics. Georgia hasn’t reached that same level of success since program-builder Suzanne Yoculan retired in 2009, the same year the Bulldogs claimed their last title.
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(Photo of Cecile Canqueteau-Landi (right) with husband Laurent and Simone Biles: Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images)
