SAINT-DENIS, France — Cecile and Laurent Landi, the most visible gymnastics coaches on the planet, cheered enthusiastically from the stands near an Olympic pool Saturday, even while their prize pupil, Simone Biles, was across town getting ready for a final tuneup before the women’s gymnastics competition begins.

There was no way the Landis were going to miss this, though, because their 17-year-old daughter, Juliette Landi, was diving into Olympic waters, competing for the French team in the women’s synchronized three-meter event.

“We had to miss practice today with the team,” Cecile said from the stands at the Aquatics Centre. “The other coaches got it, though. The girls got it. Everyone understood.”

While her parents are originally from France, Juliette was born in Oklahoma and as a baby moved to Texas, where the Landis would become two of the most high-profile coaches in the country. Juliette grew up as a gymnast, specializing in trampoline before making the jump to diving.

“She has worked so hard for this,” Cecile said. “The years in gymnastics, in trampoline, helped. She found a true passion for this sport. When you’re passionate about it and you work hard, good things happen.”

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When Juliette was named to the French team in May, it meant all three family members would be part of Olympic delegations at the Paris Games: Juliette competing under the French flag, Cecile carrying the title of head coach for the U.S. women’s gymnastics team and Laurent working alongside his wife as the personal coaches for Biles and teammate Jordan Chiles.

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They had a busy first few days in Paris but made sure to connect each day in the Olympic Village. They’re stationed in different parts of the village but got together for meals and shopping. They posed together Friday for a photo with the giant Olympic rings: Laurent seated in the green ring, Cecile in the yellow and Juliette above her parents in the center black ring. Juliette shared the photo on Instagram, saying “I wouldnt be where I am without them. they let me live out my dreams and now we are all three at the same olympics! Thank you guys for everything.”

Cecile represented France as a gymnast at the 1996 Olympics, competing under her maiden name of Canqueteau. At the Aquatics Centre on Saturday, she proudly wore a blue shirt with “France” written across the chest, clapping excitedly when Juliette and her partner, Nais Gillet, also a converted gymnast, completed their first dive: a backward 1½ somersault with a half twist. Laurent was next to Cecile, his eyes locked first on the water and then on the scoreboard.

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The judges weren’t impressed, but this competition always was going to be an uphill climb for the French duo. They had only recently started working together, and their final three dives had a lower degree of difficulty compared with that of the other seven teams competing.

In the end, the French pair finished last in the eight-team competition, while China took gold and the American duo of Sarah Bacon and Kassidy Cook won silver.

“As coaches, we can tell she’s very talented,” Cecile said. “As her parents, we’re just happy she found something she loves.”

While Juliette’s Olympic competition is over, Cecile’s and Laurent’s is just beginning. Juliette is planning to attend some of the gymnastics competition at Bercy Arena, cheering on her parents and friends.

After that, the family will return to the United States. Cecile heads to Athens, Ga., where she’ll co-coach the University of Georgia gymnastics team, Laurent and Juliette will go back to Spring, Tex., where Laurent will continue coaching at World Champions Centre as Juliette finishes her last year of high school. He’ll join his wife in Georgia next year when Juliette begins school at Auburn, where she’ll compete for the diving team.

And beyond that? The whole family could be back at the Olympics four years from now in Los Angeles, again juggling sports and schedules.

“It’s just pretty cool,” Cecile said of their Olympic experience.

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