Losing Mother to Cancer, Simone Biles’ Former Coach Makes Drops Emotional Message

Mother’s Day! You’d think it’s all about flowers, breakfast in bed, and sweet celebrations, right? But for some people, it’s way more complicated. Take Cecile Landi, for example. You might know her as the former coach of Bielsa and now the head coach of the University of Georgia’s women’s gymnastics team. She’s living her dream in the U.S., but every Mother’s Day still hits her with a wave of emotion. Why? She went through what she thought was the “hardest thing I’ve had to go through” when her mother passed away in 2023. This year, she once more experienced grief on May 25.

Unlike most of the United States, France celebrates Mother’s Day on a separate day from everyone else. In the US, we mark it on May 11th, but in France, they hold it on May 25th. Whatever place Cecile Landi ends up in, she always pays tribute to her late mother. More recently, she posted on Instagram to wish her mother a happy Mother’s Day and show a side-by-side photo of the two parents in heart shapes.

Cecile is smiling in the picture, and her mother is smiling while putting on her glasses, which is an expression you just can’t resist. Her caption says it all… all emotions… “I wish a very Happy Mother’s Day to all the moms I know, but especially to mine, whom I miss terribly .” You can see how much love and pain are behind that little message. She hasn’t ever told us her mom’s name, but the love they share is obvious, anyway. 

Back in 2023, Simone Biles’ former coach, Cecile, shared a heartbreaking post on X about what happened that year. “2023, a difficult and crazy year for me… I can’t forget the amazing experiences I’ve had this year, but my family will never be whole again after the unexpected passing of my Mom at only 68. The hardest thing I’ve had to go through #fuckcancer,” she shared.

People often ask me how she’s holding up, and this is it: losing her mom to cancer has left a gap in her heart that hasn’t healed. Since that time, she has regularly shared how she feels, mainly using social media to continue remembering her mom. And just recently, on 4th February, on the eve of World Cancer Day 2025, Cecile posted a touching tribute.

She uploaded a picture of her family that included her mom and wrote, “I miss you every day.” The grief around loss is always present.  Through all that happened, Cecile takes happiness in her daughter, knowing she completes Cecile’s life and makes her feel valued.

Cecile Landi’s daughter became her biggest cheerleader

It’s not every day you see a mother-daughter duo each make Olympic history, especially not in different sports. But Simone Biles’ former coach, Cecile Landi, the celebrated gymnastics coach known for guiding Simone Biles, got to watch her daughter, Juliette, carve her Olympic path in diving. And while Juliette may have left gymnastics behind, her support for her mom has only grown stronger.

When Cecile took the leap into NCAA coaching with the Georgia GymDogs, Juliette was right there cheering her on, saying on social media, “So proud of my mom. Watching her step into her dream job and make such an impact in just one season has been inspiring. The GymDogs are lucky to have her.” That support was more than just a post.

Having them both compete in Paris 2024 made the whole situation even more special! Team USA gymnastics had Cecile leading it, and Juliette represented France as a diver. She said to The Washington Post, “This is truly an unforgettable moment for us.” She’s been present through all the stages. “It feels special when your daughter admires you, much the same as I feel proud of her,” said Cecile.

It felt very meaningful when Juliette got a bronze at the European Championships and earned a diving scholarship to Auburn University. She said with happiness and pride, “The 2024 season has been sensational for her.” This rare crossover, where one family straddles two sports at the highest level, is more than a stat; it’s a living example of how athletic passion and love can be passed down, reshaped, and reimagined across generations. And through it all, Juliette continues to be one of Cecile’s biggest sources of strength.

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