Simone Biles Cheers On Former Coach's Georgia Gymnastics Program

Biles shares her enthusiasm for the Georgia Bulldogs and offers words of encouragement to figure skater Ilia Malinin after his Olympic disappointment.

Published on Feb. 26, 2026

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Legendary gymnast Simone Biles has openly shared her enthusiasm for the Georgia Bulldogs gymnastics program, whose head coach is Biles' former coach Cécile Canqueteau-Landi. Biles has been a passionate spectator at Bulldogs meets and has also offered words of encouragement to figure skater Ilia Malinin after his poor performance at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan.

Why it matters

Biles' support for the Georgia program highlights the close relationship between the gymnast and her former coach, Cécile Landi, who helped develop Biles' skills for Olympic success. Biles' message to Malinin also demonstrates her compassion for young athletes dealing with the immense pressure of competing at the highest levels of their sport.

The details

Biles has been focusing on spending time with family and friends, working on her clothing line, and moving into a new home with her husband, Jonathan Owens, since taking a break from competition after the 2024 Paris Olympics. The Bulldogs have had a solid 9-3 overall record and 2-3 conference record so far this season, narrowly missing a victory against No. 4 Florida on February 20th. Biles spoke of her affection for the Bulldogs, saying she is "cheering on the Bulldogs all the way" because her former coach, Cécile Canqueteau-Landi, is now the head coach at Georgia.

  • Biles has been a passionate spectator at Bulldogs gymnastics meets over the past year.
  • The Bulldogs faced off against No. 4 Florida on February 20, 2026.

The players

Simone Biles

A legendary gymnast who has taken a break from competition since the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Cécile Canqueteau-Landi

Biles' former coach who is now the head coach of the Georgia Bulldogs gymnastics program.

Ilia Malinin

A figure skater who was considered a favorite to win gold in the men's singles event at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan but missed out on a medal after a poor performance in the free skate.

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What they’re saying

“It's so beautiful at the University of Georgia. Obviously cheering on the Bulldogs all the way, in every aspect and every sport, just because one of my coaches is now a head coach at Georgia. So it's really exciting to be able to visit, to cheer on the girls, so go Bulldogs.”

— Simone Biles (profootballnetwork.com)

“I feel like I've been on both spectrums, heartbreak and success, at an Olympic Games. I know how hard it is. I know the pressures that it brings, and he's so young. Reset that mind and not think of it as not reaching the success that you wanted to have at the Olympics, but [as] a redirection. I think everything happens for a reason.”

— Simone Biles (Entertainment Weekly)

The takeaway

Simone Biles' support for the Georgia Bulldogs gymnastics program and her compassionate message to figure skater Ilia Malinin after his Olympic disappointment demonstrate her continued engagement with the sport and her desire to uplift and encourage the next generation of athletes.