In the high-stakes world of elite gymnastics, where the margin between a gold medal and a fall is measured in millimeters, the partnership between Laurent Landi and Cecile Canqueteau-Landi has long been viewed as a gold standard. Now, that partnership is reuniting under a single roof in Athens, Georgia.
The University of Georgia announced that Laurent Landi will join the women’s gymnastics staff as associate head coach, reuniting with his wife, Cecile Canqueteau-Landi, who now serves as the sole head coach of the GymDogs. The move follows the departure of Ryan Roberts, who left the program last month to join the staff at Auburn University.
For those who have followed the trajectory of the sport over the last decade, the reunion is more than a coaching change; We see a homecoming of sorts for a duo that helped define the modern era of the sport. The Landis are not merely technicians of the beam and vault; they are the architects behind the most decorated career in gymnastics history.
“So excited to be working together again! GO DAWGS,” Canqueteau-Landi shared via an Instagram story, signaling a new chapter for a program that is already on a steep upward trajectory.
A Resurgence in Athens
The GymDogs have spent the last few seasons clawing their way back toward the summit of NCAA gymnastics. Under Canqueteau-Landi’s leadership—first as co-head coach following the Paris Olympics and now as the program’s singular leader—the results have been tangible and immediate.
This past season, Georgia secured a sixth-place finish at the NCAA championships, marking the program’s strongest showing since 2016. Even more telling was the individual success of the athletes: the team earned seven All-American honors, the highest number the program has seen since 2014. For a university with a storied history in the sport, these figures represent a return to relevance.
Laurent Landi is no stranger to the atmosphere at Georgia. Though he has spent the last two years operating as a consultant for the French and Mexican national teams and various U.S. Clubs, he has been a constant presence at home meets. That proximity, Canqueteau-Landi noted, made this transition inevitable.
“Seeing (Laurent) at every home meet becoming more and more invested, I had a feeling he would eventually want to join me in helping bring this program back to the top,” Canqueteau-Landi said in a statement. “His experience, passion, and commitment to excellence will make such a positive impact on our student-athletes and our future.”
From France to the World Champions Centre
To understand the gravity of the Landis’ arrival at UGA, one must look at the road that led them there. Originally from France, the couple brought a European sensibility to the American gymnastics system after moving to the United States in 2004. Cecile Canqueteau-Landi, who represented France at the 1996 Olympics, provided the foundational perspective of an Olympian, while Laurent’s tactical brilliance emerged as they began coaching high-level talent.
Their ascent into the global spotlight accelerated with Madison Kocian, whom they guided to a world title on the uneven bars in 2015 and a team gold medal at the Rio Olympics in 2016. However, it was their move to the World Champions Centre (WCC) in 2017—the Houston-area facility owned by the parents of Simone Biles—that cemented their legacy.
When Biles returned to training in 2018, the Landis became the guiding force behind the greatest gymnast the world has ever seen. Under their tutelage, Biles didn’t just win; she redefined the physics of the sport. Together, they navigated the immense pressure of the world stage, focusing not only on the technical execution of five skills named after Biles but also on the mental fortitude required to maintain a record 41 medals across the Olympics and World Championships.
The Landis’ influence extended beyond Biles, shaping the careers of two-time Olympian Jordan Chiles and Paris alternate Joscelyn Roberson. The industry recognized this impact in 2022 and 2023, when Laurent Landi was named USA Gymnastics Coach of the Year in consecutive seasons, and the couple was inducted into the USA Gymnastics Hall of Fame in 2023.
| Year/Period | Milestone | Impact |
|---|---|---|
| 2004 | Relocation to USA | Established coaching foundation in the U.S. System. |
| 2015-2016 | Coaching Madison Kocian | World title (bars) and Rio Olympic team gold. |
| 2017-2024 | World Champions Centre | Guided Simone Biles to GOAT status and 41 medals. |
| 2023 | USA Gymnastics Hall of Fame | Formal recognition of their contribution to the sport. |
| 2026 | UGA Reunion | Laurent joins Cecile to lead the GymDogs. |
The Shift from Elite to Collegiate
The transition from coaching a singular, generational talent like Biles to leading a collegiate squad is a shift in philosophy. In the elite world, the goal is the podium; in the NCAA, the goal is the balance of athletic excellence and academic growth.
For Laurent Landi, this shift is a deliberate choice. His stated goal is no longer just about the score, but about the development of the woman behind the athlete.
“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.”
This holistic approach is likely what will sustain the GymDogs’ current momentum. By blending the rigorous standards of elite international gymnastics with a supportive collegiate environment, the Landis are positioning Georgia to not only compete but to dominate.
As the program prepares for the upcoming season, the focus will remain on stabilizing the roster following the departure of Ryan Roberts and integrating Laurent’s technical expertise into the daily training regimen. The next official checkpoint for the program will be the release of the fall training schedule and the announcement of the 2027 recruiting class, which is expected to be highly competitive given the Landis’ prestige.
Do you think the Landis’ elite experience will propel Georgia back to a national title? Share your thoughts in the comments or share this story with a fellow gymnastics fan.
