Simone Biles is a literal living legend. From being the most decorated gymnast of all time to landing brand deals and endorsements with Athleta, Louis Vuitton, and Beats by Dre, her star will def continue to rise. The gold medalist not only got this far because of her drive and talent but with the support of her grandparents who raised her, Nellie and Ronald Biles.
The athlete opened up about her upbringing during an episode of her Facebook Watch series, Simone Vs. Herself. “Being separated from my biological mom, being placed in foster care before I officially got adopted by my grandparents, it just set me up for a better route at life,” the gold medalist shared. “I feel like I wouldn’t be where I am unless that turning point happened. I would still be Simone Biles, probably not Simone Biles that everybody else knows, the world knows. But I also believe everything happens for a reason and I’m forever grateful for that because I definitely got a second shot at life.”
Before you dive into everything from Simone’s competition schedule at the 2024 Paris Olympics to the other gymnasts on Team USA, here’s everything you need to know about Simone Biles’ parents, Nellie and Ronald.
They got married in 1977
According to Andscape, Ron and Nellie met while she was a college student and he was in the Air Force raising Simone’s birth mom, Shanon, as a single father while stationed in San Antonio.
They adopted Simone when she was 6
Shanon struggled with alcohol and drug addiction when Simone and her younger sister, Adria, were young. The girls were put through foster care until Simone’s grandparents, Nellie and Ronald, adopted them when the gymnast was 6 years old.
“It was hard to give up my kids, but I had to do what I had to. I wasn’t able to care for them,” Shanon, who has been sober since 2007, told the Daily Mail in 2016. According to the publication, Simone and her biological mom speak regularly, although the convos are short. “When I talk to Simone, it’s a brief conversation, like, ‘I miss you, I love you, I can’t wait to see you, I’m proud of you, I’m watching. You go, girl,’” Shanon explained.
Ronald and Nellie supported her gymnastics dreams from the beginning
Simone discovered her love for gymnastics during a field trip when she was 6 years old. When the coaches realized her talent, they sent her home with a note to her parents encouraging them to enroll her in gymnastics training. “It was history from there,” Nellie told People in 2016. “She never missed a practice. Even if she was sick, I would tell her she should stay home, and she would say, ‘No, I have to go to practice!’”
“[They] support me in any way possible,” Biles said at the time. “My parents make sure we have everything we need so that we compete to the best of our abilities.”
Her parents were also right by her side when she pulled out of several events during the 2020 Olympics to prioritize her mental health. “Thanks for making sacrifices since day 1 so I can live out my dream. but most importantly thanks for always being there for me through all the highs and lows,” Simone wrote to her parents ahead of the 2020 Tokyo Games on Instagram. “You guys are the absolute best. I love y’all.”
They also own the World Champions Centre, aka the gym Simone trains at
Luckily, Simone’s parents own the World Champions Centre, which they opened in 2014 so Simone could keep training with her longtime coach, Aimee Boorman, in one place.
They just supported Simone’s history-making win at the 2024 Paris Olympics
Yep! Simone’s parents and her hubby, Jonathan Owens, showed their support for her during the Artistic Gymnastics Women’s Team Final on July 30, 2024. As Jonathan seemingly took notes, Simone’s mom cheered her on and her dad brought out his binoculars to see her stunning routines.
“My dad & his binoculars is soooo freaking cute 🥹,” Simone wrote on her Instagram Stories with a pic of her pops. Love to see it!
And they’ve been to every competition...
...except for one. But it was only because of COVID-19 restrictions that were put into place during the 2020 Tokyo Games.
“We go over to Tokyo and no audience is allowed, we’re quarantined in our rooms, and can only come out for breakfast, lunch, and dinner,” Simone told Brené Brown during the Simmons Leadership Conference in 2022, per People. “Everyone expected us to perform in a certain manner. There was no camaraderie, and my parents weren’t able to go there. My parents haven’t missed a competition in my life.”
