Latest Announcement for Jordan Chiles’ & Co Leave Romanian Ana Barbosu’s Future Uncertain Amid Ongoing Bronze Controversy

US gymnastics fans were in for a shocker: Cecile and Laurent Landi, the powerhouse coaching duo behind some of Team USA’s biggest successes, are saying goodbye to the World Champions Centre (WCC). Yep, the same WCC owned by Simone Biles’ parents in Spring, Texas, where the GOAT herself and other Olympians have trained.

After seven incredible years, Cecile bowed out post-Paris Olympics, and while everyone thought Laurent would stick around, he recently announced his own exit. Cue heartbreak and a whirlwind of speculation—because their departure isn’t just a goodbye, it’s a game-changer.

Let’s rewind. Since 2017, the Landis turned WCC into a medal-making factory. Under their watch, Simone competed in two Olympics and brought home six medals (two in Tokyo, four in Paris). But their magic didn’t stop with Simone. Gymnasts like Jordan Chiles, Joscelyn Roberson, Mélanie de Jesus dos Santos, and more blossomed under their guidance. At the Paris Olympics, Cecile made waves when she called for an inquiry after Jordan Chiles’ floor final, sparking the now-infamous bronze medal saga where Romania’s Ana Barbosu swooped in to claim the medal post-appeal. Drama much?

Fast-forward to now, and the Landis’ exit has stirred the pot again. But wait—here’s the plot twist. WCC wasted no time lining up replacements, and guess who’s stepping in? None other than Romania’s own coaching dream team. That’s right: Patrick Kiens and Daymon Jones, the same duo who coached the Romanian women’s gymnastics team to glory at Paris 2024. Talk about an unexpected twist for Chiles, who’s currently training at UCLA but will soon return to WCC, only to find her new mentors once stood across the competition floor.

WCC made the announcement via Instagram on December 11, saying, “We are proud to introduce our new WAG Program Directors, Patrick Kiens and Daymon Jones. With 3 Olympics, 7 World Championships, 12 European Championships, and consulting at FIG for the new COP, they come with a wealth of knowledge and experience to continue WCC’s tradition of top-tier gymnastics and quality coaching.”

They concluded the message with, “The future is bright! #WCCProud” 

Neither coaches have reacted to the announcement publicly yet. Having said that, Kiens and Jones come with serious gymnastics credentials. These two aren’t just coaches—they’re game-changers. They’ve worked with multiple national teams as consultants and choreographers and even helped the International Gymnastics Federation shape the new Code of Points. Before leading Romania to success in Paris, Kiens took Egypt to Tokyo 2020, and Netherlands to Rio 2016. Jones, on the other hand, worked with Austria for Tokyo 2020, and Egypt for Rio 2016. And their combined trophy case?

A jaw-dropping 19 European Championship (12 for Kiens and 7 for Jones), and 12 World Championship (7 for Kiens and 5 for Jones) titles between them. Apart from that, Kiens has also served as a guest choreographer for European Gymnastics, and has worked with the national teams of Norway, South Africa, Germany, Belgium, Poland, Canada, Spain, Iceland, and Great Britain.

Notably, Kiens was accused of abuse while coaching in Netherlands, but was reportedly exonerated later.

Jones has worked as a consultant and guest choreographer for Germany, Norway, Sweden, Austria, Romania, and Netherlands. He’s the current coach of the Germany’s National Team Staff, as per an official statement by WCC. If WCC wanted star power, they landed just that. But let’s address the elephant—or gymnast—in the room.

Their arrival is stirring up speculation, especially regarding Barbosu, who snagged that controversial floor bronze from Chiles. Could this be a case of “if you can’t beat them, hire them”? With these two joining forces at WCC, one thing’s clear: the gym is still very much in the business of shaping champions. But the big question remains—what does this shakeup mean for Barbosu, Chiles, and the simmering US-Romania rivalry?

Ana Barbosu’s gymnastics career is unclear as Jordan Chiles continues her Olympic battle 

Cecile Landi’s buzzer-beater inquiry at the Paris Olympics stirred up a medal mess no one saw coming. Her challenge initially handed Jordan Chiles the floor exercise bronze, bumping Ana Barbosu to fourth. But Team Romania wasn’t having it. They took the case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), and it turned out Landi’s inquiry was four seconds too late. CAS reversed the call, and Barbosu snagged the bronze back, leaving Chiles empty-handed. The drama didn’t end there, though.

While Barbosu basks in her medal glow, her gymnastics future looks a bit wobbly. Both her coaches have left Team Romania for the U.S. finding a spot under the WCC roof, leaving Barbosu without a guiding hand. As of now, she hasn’t signed with a new coach, and fans are already speculating—could this shakeup be the beginning of the end for her momentum?

Meanwhile, Chiles is not throwing in the towel. After battling through the emotional fallout, the 23-year-old is still fighting to get her bronze back. She’s appealed the CAS decision to Switzerland’s Federal Supreme Court, armed with new video evidence showing Landi filed the inquiry 47 seconds after the score was announced—well within the time limit. Team USA is fully behind her, but CAS, so far, isn’t budging.

So, where does that leave fans? A brewing courtroom showdown, a WCC coaching revamp, Simone Biles’s retirement speculation, and a US-Romania rivalry hotter than ever. Will Chiles reclaim her bronze? Can Barbosu thrive without her coaches? Stay tuned, folks—this saga is far from over. Thoughts? Let’s hear them in the comments!