Olympic Gymnast ‘Forever Grateful’ to Adoptive Parents
By Movieguide® Contributor
Olympic gymnast Simone Biles is crediting her adoptive parents for her athletic success.
“If not for my parents and adoption, I wouldn’t be here today,” she told TODAY following the Paris Olympics, where Biles took home three gold medals and one silver.
Biles and her siblings were placed in foster care when she was 3 years old. Their mother struggled with drug and alcohol addiction and was unable to care for them.
When Simone was 6, her biological grandparents, Ronald and Nellie Biles, officially adopted her and her sister Adria.
”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,” Biles shared during an episode of her Facebook Watch series, SIMONE VS. HERSELF.
She continued, “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.”
Biles frequently shares her gratitude for her parents in interviews and social media posts.
“thanks for making sacrifices since day 1 so I can live out my dream,” a 2021 Instagram post reads. “but most importantly thanks for always being there for me through all the highs and lows. You guys are the absolute best. I love y’all.”
Movieguide® previously reported on Biles’ relationship with her parents:
Nellie Biles, mother of four-time Olympic gold gymnast Simone Biles, prays for her daughter’s safety as she competes and looks ahead to Paris 2024.
“All I’m thinking about and praying for is that she stays safe and that she ends that routine. I could hardly wait for it to be over with,” Nellie told TODAY.com.
With the next Olympic games on the horizon, Nellie is focused on ensuring Simone knows her family is there to support her every step of the way.
“The important thing is to be there for Simone and making sure that she understands that her family is there giving her her full support,” she explained. “And I am going to be really happy and probably shedding a few tears just because I’m going to be so emotional.”
