New Coaches In, Simone Biles' Early Gymnastics Mentor Spotted in Unexpected Place

Just a few days ago, Simone Biles’ family-owned gym, World Champions Centre (WCC), faced an unexpected coaching shakeup. It all began back in August when Cecile Landi left her role to take on a co-head coaching position at the University of Georgia. Shortly after, her husband Laurent Landi, who had also coached Simone, followed suit. For a brief moment, WCC found itself in a coaching limbo, with the gymnastics world wondering what would come next for the powerhouse gym. But true to form, Simone Biles knew just how to make things right.

WCC quickly turned the page by bringing in Patrick Kiens and Daymon Jones, two accomplished coaches with extensive experience working with Romania’s national team, including during the 2024 Paris Olympics. Their appointment signals a significant shift at the gym, but it’s important to note that Simone’s departure from the Landis’ coaching team was on good terms. Moreover, Simone’s former coach, Aimee Boorman, who had been with her since she was eight years old and led her to a gold medal at the 2016 Rio Olympics, also continues to be an important figure in Simone’s gymnastics journey.

Boorman left WCC in 2017 to take on the role of executive director at EVO Athletics in Florida, but her influence remains. Recently, she made an appearance in a rather unexpected place at the National Team camp in Canada! Yes, you heard that right. Even though she’s American, she was spotted coaching up in Canada. Even when Nick Ruddock shared a heartfelt Instagram post thanking all the coaches and support staff who made the camp a success, including Boorman, along with Carol Angela, Brett Wargo, Cyrille Brindamour, and Scott Willgress.

Ruddock, a world-leading coach educator and consultant in the international gymnastics community captioned the post which included a photo of several coaches. He said, “Grateful to have worked alongside such an incredible group of support staff and practitioners at last week’s National Team Camp in Canada 🇨🇦. Huge thanks to everyone’s contribution to the camp, and of course to the personal coaches and athletes for being outstanding. Big thanks to @ballet4sports and Matthew for their choreography and dance expertise also (photos missing)🙏🏻 Further thanks to @calgarygymnasticscentre for hosting the event and doing it so well.”

Even though it’s been eight years since Simone and Aimee parted ways, the former coach made a move that connected to Simone and brought back some old memories. Want to know what it is? Let’s dive into it!

Aimee Boorman turned Simone Biles into a gymnastics legend

Simone Biles has always been a natural when it comes to gymnastics, and Aimee Boorman, remembers it well. According to Boorman, Simone “walked into the gym already almost having figured out gymnastics,” which is an extraordinary way to start. Despite never having formal training before, Simone’s raw talent was undeniable.

In fact, Boorman’s recent book, The Balance: My Years Coaching Simone Biles, delves into how Simone, even without the basics, was already performing moves that most kids couldn’t even dream of doing. Simone herself has mentioned that her brother taught her a back handspring in their backyard, but it wasn’t until she began her formal training that her incredible potential truly began to shine. She would often watch others perform complex skills and think, “I can do that,” then go out and attempt them herself.

However, it wasn’t always smooth sailing. As Simone began mastering more advanced skills, Boorman had to break each one down as she would with any other gymnast. But Simone’s ability to grasp them quickly set her apart. Boorman recalls, “She was able to figure it out faster than most athletes,” making even the most challenging moves seem more accessible.

One event that posed more difficulty for Simone was the uneven bars. Though she has yet to claim a World or Olympic title in this event—her best being a silver at the 2018 World Championships—she’s faced numerous hurdles along the way. One such challenge was learning the Tkatchev, a complex release move on the bars. Boorman jokes that it felt like it took “17 years” for Simone to perfect it.

But when it came time for her to learn new skills, Simone’s approach was simple yet effective as she would just “go in and do it and hit it.” This determination and ability to rise to the challenge are key reasons Simone has become the gymnastics icon she is today. Throughout all of her achievements and challenges, Biles and her coaches have always shared a deep and trusting bond.

The support and guidance from Boorman, especially in those early years, played a crucial role in shaping the gymnast who would go on to change the sport forever. Can the new duo of Jones and Keins replicate the same magic? Let us know what you think in the comment section below!