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The extraordinary Olympic career of Simone Biles appears to have reached its culmination after she secured her place among the greatest of all time this summer. After her well-documented withdrawal from the Tokyo Olympics due to mental health issues, Biles made a spectacular comeback in Paris, winning three gold medals and four overall. This remarkable performance cemented her status as the most decorated U.S. Olympic gymnast of all time, with an impressive 11 Olympic medals.
But we all know that these achievements don’t happen overnight; they require immense preparation, discipline, and a solid foundation of guidance to avoid the constant distractions and bad influences out there. Biles is an incredible example of resilience and overcoming obstacles, as she and her siblings were placed in foster care while their mother struggled with addiction. In 2000, Biles’ maternal grandfather, Ron Biles, and his wife, Nellie, took in Simone and her younger sister, Adria, and eventually adopted them in 2003. Here’s a video showing the house where she grew up and the new one in Texas, where she will now live with her fiancé, Chicago Bears player Jonathan Owens.
The change is drastic, but I think that’s what we humans have to do each day – strive for improvement and seek comfort for ourselves and our loved ones. Biles’ adoption gave her the stability and support she needed, along with a strong family foundation. Growing up in Texas, Simone discovered gymnastics at the age of six and quickly showed remarkable talent. Ron and Nellie enrolled her in training and have been her biggest supporters ever since. If it weren’t for them, we might not have had the chance to witness one of the greatest gymnasts in history.
At 27, Biles was the oldest gymnast to represent the U.S. in 72 years, and her historic performance has placed her firmly in the top three of all-time Olympic medalists. She’s tied with Czech gymnast Vra áslavská with 11 medals, trailing only Russia’s Larisa Latynina, who holds a seemingly unbeatable record of 18 Olympic medals. While it’s not out of the question for Biles to compete in Los Angeles in 2028, it seems unlikely. Instead, she may play a more significant role as a mentor or coach to younger athletes.
Now, Biles is acting more as an ambassador for women in the NFL, taking a page from the book of Taylor Swift, who seems to be the only WAG in the NFL more famous than Biles. Biles has attended several Chicago Bears games to support her husband, Jonathan Owens; in fact, last week she shared an activity where fans could enter for a chance to join her in the Bears’ private suite for a game.
