When Cecile Canqueteau-Landi announced her departure from World Champions Centre in April 2024, the gymnastics world knew it marked the end of an era. Alongside her husband Laurent Landi, Cecile had been instrumental in shaping the careers of some of America’s top gymnasts—including the GOAT herself, Simone Biles. Their guidance had become synonymous with WCC’s rise as a powerhouse in U.S. gymnastics. But after years of Olympic success, Cecile was ready for her next chapter: co-head coach at the University of Georgia. She would remain with Biles through the Paris Games, but everyone knew big changes were coming back home in Texas. Caught amid the bigger moving pieces was a rising star. Someone who still tags it ‘difficult.’ Why?

A year earlier to this transition, Tiana Sumanasekera had placed eighth in the All-Around at the Olympic Trials, earning a spot as an alternate for Team USA. It was a proud achievement—but as the Olympics loomed, she knew her training home at WCC wouldn’t look the same once the Games were over. Would she be able to adapt? Speaking to Inside Gymnastics, the 17-year-old Tiana reflected on the uncertainty: “I think big coaching changes are difficult for everybody,” she said. “Growing up with certain coaches and being trained by them for so long is definitely difficult.” For Tiana—and many others at WCC—the post-Olympic era wouldn’t just be a new chapter. It would be a whole new book.

Well, as promised by Nellie Biles, the World Champions Centre didn’t stay without strong leadership for long. In December, the gym welcomed not one but two powerhouse coaches to fill the void left by Cecile Canqueteau-Landi and Laurent Landi. Their names: Patrick Kiens and Daymon Jones, each bringing serious international firepower to the table.

Fresh from coaching Team Romania at the 2024 Paris Olympics, both Kiens and Jones arrived with résumés that could rival the best in the business. They had previously coached for countries like Egypt, Austria, and the Netherlands across the last two Olympic cycles. Even more impressively, both were key consultants for the International Gymnastics Federation in developing the new Code of Points—the very rulebook that governs how gymnasts are scored worldwide. Combined, they’ve coached at three Olympic Games, seven World Championships, and a whopping 12 European Championships. For the gymnasts at WCC, including Tiana Sumanasekera, the arrival of such experienced mentors marked the beginning of a new era. And while change is never easy, Tiana sees the benefits.

“I think these coaches are very knowledgeable with the artistry deductions, with the Code of Points, the 17-year-old said, expanding on her earlier thoughts. “And I think every coach brings in a different set of experience to the table. These coaches are very experienced as well, and they have different styles. I think that was something that took a little bit longer for us to get adjusted to, just because Cecile and Laurent had very individualized coaching styles, and Patrick and Damon, have very different styles than Cecile and Laurent, so that’s what took us the longest to get used to. But we’ve gotten used to it, and I think we’re doing really well with that right now.” 

And it’s now been six months since the transition, and Tiana isn’t just settling in—she’s thriving. With her sights set on even bigger goals, she’s leaning into the guidance of her new coaches, turning change into opportunity, and pushing toward a future that looks as promising as ever.

Simone Biles’s teammate has set her goal higher 

Tiana Sumanasekera is fired up and ready to launch her elite season. After the Pan American Championships, she will enter both the U.S. Classic and the Xfinity U.S. National Championships—major stops on her path toward the ultimate goal: earning a spot on this year’s World Championship team. For Tiana, it’s not just about medals—it’s about consistency, confidence, and peaking at the right time ahead of the World Team Selection Camp this fall.

The 17-year-old has her sights set on more than just the global stage. A California native, Tiana is hoping to continue her gymnastics journey close to home, with college plans in the Golden State. But perhaps the biggest dream of all? Competing at the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles—a once-in-a-lifetime chance to represent Team USA on home soil.

And through all this, she’s doing it under the same roof that helped shape a legend: Simone Biles. Training at the World Champions Centre, the gym founded by Biles’ family and where Simone herself still trains, Tiana is surrounded by the energy of greatness every day. With new coaches Patrick Kiens and Daymon Jones now guiding her, and Simone’s legacy echoing through the gym walls, Tiana isn’t just chasing dreams—she’s building them, one routine at a time.