"We had to adjust to Simone Biles, otherwise we would have broke her" - Laurent Landi on coaching the most decorated gymnasts of all time

By Anirudh

Modified Jul 22, 2024 14:01 GMT

Laurent Landi has given an insight into how coaching Simone Biles, one of the most decorated gymnasts of all time, works. Laurent and his wife Cecile Canqueteau-Landi began coaching Biles in 2017.

The duo have been by her side during her highs and lows, and are looking forward to helping her further strengthen her legacy at the upcoming Paris Olympics.

The Landis believe that there is a chance Biles would not have achieved everything she has if she wasn't born in the United States of America.

“An athlete like Simone would never have reached her full potential in France. Because she would have been put aside because she didn’t fit that box,” Cecile said. (via AP)

Laurent stated that the coaches also need to adapt to the needs of the athletes they train, something that was necessary when training a star like Biles.

“We’re not always right. If you do your own way all the time, you will hurt the majority of the athletes. Maybe one will survive and will be an amazing person, amazing athlete but the (other) 90%, they will be broken. ... We had to adjust to Simone, otherwise we would have broke her,” he opined.

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“They’ve been big mentors in like my adulthood” - Simone Biles on her coaches Cecile and Laurent Landi

Simone Biles celebrates with her coach Laurent Landi at the 2023 Core Hydration Classic - Getty Images

Simone Biles has stated that her relationship with her coaches Cecile and Laurent Landi is not limited to purely professional things. She said she viewed their relationship as more of a partnership.

“They’ve been big mentors in like my adulthood (because) they got to see and harness the more mature Simone. They’ve helped me a lot not just in the gym but out of the gym, too,” Biles said.

Biles also recalled how Laurent had to adjust to working with her over the years, especially after she got married and began to have other things in her daily schedule besides training.

“When (we) tell him he just hears ‘you’re missing practice’ and kind of freaks out. Because he sees all the end goals and then he gets the calendar and then he’s like: ’Oh, OK, that’s fine. We’ll do this today, we’ll do that.’ So it just takes time for him to process,” she added.

With Cecile and Laurent Landi by her side, Biles will be eager to add to her seven Olympic medals when she competes in Paris.