Revealed
'THEY SAVED ME'
Who are Simone Biles’ adoptive parents, Ronald and Nellie?
The decorated athlete and Olympic medalist credits her adoptive parents for giving her a second shot at life
DURING her early childhood, Simon Biles was placed in foster care by her mother, Shannon.
The Olympic gold medallist was adopted by her grandfather and step-grandmother.
2
Who are Simone Biles' adoptive parents, Ronald and Nellie?
As the sports sensation returns to the 2024 Olympics in Paris, her parents continue to cheer Biles on.
Simone Biles’ parents are her maternal grandfather, Ron Biles, and his second wife, Nellie Cayetano Biles.
The pair adopted her in 2003 after she spent time in foster care due to her mother, Shannon, being unable to care for her and her siblings.
Nellie and Ron officially adopted Biles and her younger sister, Adria.
Ron's sister, Shannon's aunt Harriet, adopted Shannon's two oldest children, Ashley and Tevin.
Nellie talked about the adoption in 2021 in the docuseries Simone Vs Herself, saying: “I remember praying for that bonding … because telling them that you love them and you care for them; that's all words.
“But then you wake up one day, and you realize that you would do anything for these children. And that you would die for these children.
“And when that feeling comes, that's when you know you are truly a mother."
Most read in Olympics
Ron and Nellie attended every one of her competitions except the Tokyo Olympics 2020 where the sport took place behind closed doors because of the Covid-19 pandemic.
During this time, Biles shocked the sporting world when she withdrew partway through her campaign after a severe case of “the twisties," in which gymnasts become disoriented mid-air.
Tearful Simone Biles admits she's still scared to do gymnastics after pulling out of FIVE Olympic finals with 'Twisties'
Biles confessed that not having her parents watching from the stands was one of the things that made her experience harder.
She said: “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.”
Nellie told : “She always knows where we are sitting, and it doesn’t matter the arena.
“If she’s in a competition, she’ll look and I’ll wave and we make a connection.”
2
What has Simone Biles said about her adoptive parents?
Biles opened up about her adoption on an episode of Dancing With The Stars in April 2017.
In the interview, she said: “Growing up, my biological mom was suffering from drug and alcohol abuse and she was in and out of jail.
"I never had mom to run to.
My parents saved me. They’ve set huge examples of how to treat other people, and they’ve been there to support me since day one
Simone Biles
"I do remember always being hungry and afraid. At three years old, I was placed in foster care."
She said through tears: "Whenever we had visits with my grandpa, I was so excited.
"That was the person I always wanted to see walk into the foster home.
"My parents saved me. They’ve set huge examples of how to treat other people, and they’ve been there to support me since day one."
She added: “There’s nothing I could say to them to thank them enough."
How many medals does Simone Biles have?
Biles is the owner of a total of 40 Olympic and World Championship medals.
After a two-year hiatus, Biles returned to sweep the trophies and became the world’s most decorated gymnast in history in October 2023.
The American superstar made a grand return with a sixth victory at the Artistic Gymnastics World Championship in Belgium.
She has surpassed the retired Belarussian Vitaly Scherbo, who has a total of 33 wins, to become the most decorated gymnast ever - male or female.
OLYMPIC HAUL
Biles is a six-time World all-around champion, six-time World floor exercise champion, four-time World balance beam champion, two-time World vault champion, and nine-time US national all-around champion.
She is the first American female gymnast to win a World medal in every event.
During the 2024 Paris Olympics, Biles won three additional medals.
Her four golds were won in Rio in 2016 in the team event as well as all-round, floor, and vault.
She was awarded bronze in the beam.
In 2020, she won silver as part of the US team, and bronze in the beam.
She is also one of the richest gymnasts in the world, with a reported net worth of $16 million.
Biles has obtained most of her fortune through endorsements, sponsorships, and Olympic wins.
READ MORE SUN STORIES
Biles secured her third trip to the Olympics after coming first at the US Olympic Team Trials for gymnastics in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
In April 2023, Biles married NFL star Jonathan Owens.
Topics