Lily Smith has quickly become one of the standout names in collegiate gymnastics—and for good reason. As a sophomore, she turned heads in 2024 by competing in all twelve meets on beam, bars, and floor. Delivered stellar performances one after another. With an impressive all-around score of 39.675, a perfect 10 on bars, and thirteen 9.950s on beam and floor, her season was nothing short of spectacular. Add to that four All-America honors and the SEC Freshman of the Year title, and it’s clear—Smith isn’t just competing; she’s thriving.
But here’s the thing: talent alone doesn’t take you that far. Behind Lily’s incredible season is a strong support system, especially the guidance of her coaches, Cecile Canqueteau-Landi and Ryan Roberts. So, how did this coaching duo help Lily Smith rise to the occasion time and again? Meet the two individuals who contributed to transforming a little girl’s dream into a part of gymnastics history.
Who is Canqueteau-Landi?
Lily Smith’s coach, Canqueteau-Landi, has subtly influenced the golden era of American gymnastics. Her journey begins in the sun-drenched area of Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur in France, where she initially established her reputation as a gymnast. She donned the French colors at the Atlanta Olympics in 1996, but the world was unaware that her greatest Olympic influence was yet to come.
She has been a big supporter behind 11 Olympic medal-winning athletes like Jordan Chiles, Simone Biles, and Madison Kocian. From the World Champions Centre in Spring, Texas, to the global arenas of Rio, Tokyo, and Paris, Landi’s work has not only attracted attention but also garnered the highest accolade—2024 USA Gymnastics Coach of the Year for Women’s Artistic Gymnastics.
However, her achievements extend beyond just medals. Canqueteau-Landi has trained 13 athletes from the USA Women’s Senior National Team, including Olympic and World champions Biles and Kocian, Alyssa Baumann, Jordan Chiles, and emerging star Lily Smith. Landi’s coaching combines elite science and quiet mentorship, with a total focus on athletes. This was all about how Landi trained her mentees; what about her own training?
Well, Lily Smith got her skills from the World Olympic Gymnastics Academy (WOGA) as she was a part of WOGA from 2007 to 2017. It is the same gym where gymnasts like Carly Patterson and Nastia Liukin used to come, before becoming the powerhouse coach we know today. At that location, she worked as a coach next to Ryan Roberts, who would eventually become her co-head coach at the University of Georgia.
Who is Ryan Roberts?
Ryan Roberts, co-head coach of Lily Smith, joined the team in April 2024 before working as an assistant coach for two seasons. What before that? Before joining Georgia, Roberts gave his expertise to Alabama athletes. And his dedication helped him earn WCGA Region 1 Assistant Coach of the Year for two consecutive years—2020 and 2021.
Roberts helped the GymDogs achieve an overall ranking of No. 18 in 2024, with a National Qualifying Score of 197.425. Apart from just training athletes, Roberts has been a USA gymnastics national staff member since 2018. But, before showing off his talent to the gymnastics world, he was a platoon commander and communications officer in the US Marine Corps, and that was the only reason that in 2005 he was deployed to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Roberts competed at the University of New Mexico for two years before concluding his career as a two-time NCAA qualifier at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst, where he obtained a bachelor’s degree in psychology in 2003. In 2010, he obtained a master’s degree in theology from Fuller Theological Seminary.
What are Lily Smith’s notable achievements under Coach Canqueteau-Landi and Ryan Roberts?
Under the leadership of both coaches, Canqueteau-Landi and Ryan Roberts, Lily Smith has shown her power on the gymnastics mat. Notably became SEC freshman of the year in 2024. She got this honor as she ended up with a 39.675 overall score. With an NQS of 9.950, Lily Smith ranks tenth overall and is the highest-ranked SEC freshman on bars. Additionally, she holds a position in the top 25 for both floor and all-around. She achieved a season-best score of 9.850 on vault, 9.950 on beam and floor, and a perfect 10 on bars.
In addition to this, Ryan Roberts’s mentee received All-American honors on bars, floor, beams, and all-around. Now, the NCAA gymnastics championship is around the corner; it will be interesting to see how Georgia’s Lily Smith performs.
The post Who are Lily Smith’s coaches? Know Everything About Canqueteau-Landi and Ryan Roberts appeared first on EssentiallySports.
