On June thirtieth, 2024, Jordan Chiles made it into the US Olympics Gymnastics crew for the second time. The 2023 Pan American Video games crew champion completed in third place behind the legendary Simone Biles and Suni Lee on the Olympic trials. Whereas the Tokyo 2020 crew silver medalist hopes to improve her medal to gold this time round, she has Laurent and Cecile Canqueteau-Landi to thank for her continued success.
Jordan Chiles showcased her skills on the nationwide stage till 2018, turning into the U.S. all-around and vault silver medalist in 2017 and 2018 respectively. Nonetheless, it was solely when she moved to Spring, Texas, in 2019 to coach below the Landis, that she shined on the worldwide stage. So who’re the husband and spouse teaching duo who took the Vancouver native to the grandest stage within the sport?
Laurent and Cecile Landi: The long-lasting duo of gymnastics
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Jordan Chiles obtained into gymnastics as a result of she was naturally drawn to acrobatics as a toddler. “My parents could not keep me from cartwheeling down the aisle of any open space or walking on my hands instead of my feet,” Chiles explains within the official USA Gymnastics bio. Nonetheless, it’s a coach who hones an athlete’s expertise, and head coach Laurent Landi helps Chiles showcase her skills on the highest degree.
Whereas Laurent Landi acts as Chiles’ head coach, he intently works with fellow coach and spouse, Cecile Landi. The Class of 2023 Corridor of Fame inductees began their teaching journey of their house nation of France. Nonetheless, the teaching duo have been gymnasts earlier than they began coaching others. Between the duo, Cecile discovered extra recognition as a gymnast, making it to to the 1996 Olympics.
Nonetheless, the Landis had transitioned to teaching by the early 2000s. But, it wasn’t till they moved to the States in 2004 that the teaching duo launched into their Corridor of Fame profession. Laurent and Cecile Landi began their profession on the Bart Nook Gymnastics Academy in Oklahoma in 2004. The next yr Laurent and Cecile Landi tied the knot.
The Landis renown grew and so they moved to Texas to affix the well-known World Olympic Gymnastics Academy. Since then the coaches have collectively skilled 11 U.S. Ladies’s Senior Nationwide Workforce members. In 2017, Laurent and Cecile Landi’s renown grew additional as they began mentoring Simone Biles. After Biles’ longtime coach Amiee Boorman moved to Florida, she began coaching below the husband-wife duo.
In 2017, the coaches additionally left WOCA to affix Biles’ house membership the World Champions Centre. Two years later Jordan Chiles joined their crew. Her former coach prompt she transfer to Texas as he had taught her every thing he knew. Beneath head coach Laurent Landi, the UCLA gymnast made it to her first Olympics in Tokyo, incomes her first Olympic medal.
Apart from the Olympics, Jordan Chiles has additionally gained silver and bronze medals in nationwide and worldwide competitions. The gymnast has medaled within the 2021 Winter Cup, 2022 World Championships, 2023 NCAA Championships, 2023 Pan American Video games, and extra. One of many causes behind her success has been because of the synergy she shares along with her coaches.
Why Jordan Chiles and the Landis make the proper match
All through her profession, Jordan Chiles has skilled below completely different coaches, however the synergy she shares with Laurent and Cecile Landi has contributed to her success. That’s as a result of the new-age coaches take a unique strategy with their athletes. Apart from serving to gymnasts shine on the highest degree, the Landis have earned a popularity for his or her constructive and athlete-centric strategies.
All through the historical past of gymnastics, many coaches have usually prioritized accolades over athletes’ psychological well being. Even legendary coaches like former nationwide crew coordinator Marta Karolyi, have confronted allegations of mistreatment and verbal ab**e towards athletes. Earlier than beginning her coaching below the Landis Jordan Chiles confronted comparable abuse below a former coach.
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“From being 15 years old now, my mindset had always been Olympics, Olympics, Olympics. It was nonstop. People only saw me as an athlete. I had a coach who verbally ab**ed me and emotionally ab**ed me. There were just a lot of things that she stripped from me… There were a lot of times when I did want to quit.” Jordan Chiles confessed on The Squeeze Podcast in January 2024.
“My self-esteem got to a point where I did not want to be on the earth anymore.” the 23-year-old revealed in a stunning confession. Nonetheless, Laurent and Cecile Landi’s assist has helped Jordan Chiles put these reminiscences behind her. “I want to continue to change the culture of Gymnastics by encouraging others to have fun and enjoy this sport,” says the Olympian’s official bio.
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Fortunately, the Olympic silver medalist and her coaches share this philosophy. The Corridor of Fame coaches confirmed that to them their athletes’ wellbeing issues essentially the most when Simone Biles opened up about her psychological well being challenges in the course of the Tokyo Olympics. Whereas many again house labeled the 7x Olympic medalist as a “quitter,” the Landis stood by their pupil.
Laurent and Cecile Landi have helped gymnasts reminiscent of Jordan Chiles and Simone Biles overcome challenges and shine on the world stage. Nonetheless of their 40s, the enduring teaching duo have a protracted profession forward of them.