Simone Biles has carved her path to the legendary G.O.A.T. status. But the Landis definitely helped the 27-year-old make the steep climb. Cecil Kanketto Landy and Laurent Landy were looking for a fresh start in 2017, and as luck would have it, so were the gymnasts. At a time when they needed new coaching and guidance the most, Cecil stepped forward, and the rest, as the saying goes, is history.
Landi was more than just a coach to the Olympian. She was more like family. After a painful experience at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, the 27 -year -old Olympics decided to leave the sports. But as soon as she was ready to return to the carpet, Bills knew that her coach would return her. It is this support, this understanding and this determination that many could see at the Bercy Arena. Cécile Lundy and the 27-year-old athlete form a powerful duo. But when the dust settled after the Paris Games, Randy received a pleasant surprise. Can you guess what it was? A moving surprise
This has been a great season for the gymnast, and she will make a triumphant return to the world’s biggest stage, but she will leave the French capital with four other gleaming Olympic machines. Cecil Lundy has been by his side throughout the ordeal, and even though the Olympics are long over, USA Gymnastics recently presented the coach with a bouquet of flowers. On November 8, she shared a snippet of the letter from USOPC Coaching’s Christine Bolger and the order of Ikkos she received on her Instagram story, captioned, “Feeling grateful ❤️🤍💙 Thank you @simonebiles“
According to the heartwarming note, the USOPC congratulated the coach for guiding the gymnast through the U.S. Olympic Trials and to several podiums in the French capital. The G.O.A.T. did face a huge mental block while contesting in the trials, as we witnessed in Episode 3 of Simone Biles Rising. With many gymnasts losing their lives to injuries, the 27-year-old feared she could be next. Cecil Lundy realized this and did her best to defuse the situation. The coach quickly told her players to stop looking around and focus on themselves, but even she knows this is easier said than done. Simone Biles was on the mat competing and Lundy was shouting words of encouragement to them. She constantly reminded them of their abilities. So why aren’t these efforts being recognized? But here’s the problem. The Order of Ikkos program was created to allow Team USA members to recognize coaches who have impacted their Olympic and Paralympic journeys.
“This unique honor can only be bestowed by Olympic and Paralympic athletes to their coaches, and you have been recognized as a recipient. Therefore, we are very pleased that the USOPC has awarded you the Order of Icco in Simone Biles’ name,” the memo reads, but that’s not all. In addition to this, Cecil Lundy also earned a spot on the Coaches Honor Roll, along with hundreds of other elite Team USA coaches. So, why isn’t she on the G.O.A.T. yet? Cécile Lundy embarks on a new adventure in her coaching career
The dynamic duo began their journey in 2017 and have experienced many ups and downs. However, when she took on the role of coaching an Olympian, she felt a kind of pressure she had never experienced in her coaching career. It seemed like people always wanted to see me fail, and according to them, there was no way to beat the magic of Olympians. But it didn’t take long for the skeptics to be proven wrong. What was her secret sauce? She continued to push herself and believed in her potential. In the French capital, the motto helped the Olympics constantly destroy the glass ceiling. But once they returned to the U.S., it was time for them to go their separate ways.
Earlier this year, it was announced that Cecil Lundy would open a new office and take on a new role as co-head coach at the University of Georgia after the Paris Olympics. And Simone Biles couldn’t be happier. And for what? It was because she truly believed her longtime coach deserved the role.
Lundy was always there for the gymnast, especially with her schedule. Things would be easier if she were a teenager spending all her time in the gym, but the 27-year-old has a lot to do off the mat, and her coach has always found a solution for her. When the Olympian moved into her first home, Randy helped her out by showing her how to use the dishwasher, and even though they’re 850 miles apart, the 27-year-old found a way to show her gratitude.
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