By now, most people have heard the story of the gymnastics GOAT, Simone Biles. She and her sister were adopted by their maternal grandfather, Ronald, when Biles was only six. This was because their birth mother, Shannon, struggled with drug and alcohol addictions, and couldn’t care for them properly.
Simone Biles has always considered Ron and Nellie Biles as her mother and father. Her bond with her birth mother isn’t as strong, but there have been attempts at reconnection.
Shannon Biles talks about reconnecting with her daughter
Simone Biles’ birth mother, Shannon, has shared in the past how proud she is of Biles. For six years after the adoption, Shannon wasn’t allowed to see the Olympic champion. She gave an interview to The Daily Mail detailing her experience with losing her kids and trying to reconnect with them.
“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,’” Shannon said during the 2016 interview.
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FORT WORTH, TEXAS – JUNE 06: Simone Biles competes in the floor exercise during the Senior Women’s competition of the U.S. Gymnastics Championships at Dickies Arena on June 06, 2021 in Fort Worth, Texas. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
“It’s never anything personal. I want to tell her what really happened when I was younger, but I keep on waiting for the right time.” Shannon said she has been sober since 2007 and has been in a better place physically and mentally.
Biles’ parents, Ron and Nellie, did not wish for Shannon to discuss the topic of her addiction with Biles. Though she wanted Biles to understand her situation, she also respected the wishes of her parents.
Simone Biles at the Tokyo Olympics
When Simone Biles pulled out of the team finals at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, Shannon had only one thing to say, “She’s gonna be okay.” Biles cited mental reasons for her withdrawal. She explained that she had been plagued by the ‘twisties’, making her lose spatial awareness while she was in the air.
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TOKYO, JAPAN – AUGUST 03: Simone Biles of Team United States competes in the Women’s Balance Beam Final on day eleven of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Ariake Gymnastics Centre on August 03, 2021 in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images)
This condition can lead to fatal injuries for gymnasts as they perform dangerous skills on the mat. To regain her footing, Biles pulled away from many events, retraining in the basics. She wrapped up her Olympic run with a bronze medal on the balance beam.
Her two medals in Tokyo added to her overall tally and tied her with Shannon Miller for the most Olympic medals won by an American gymnast. Since then, Biles has been on a break from competitions, recovering her health and focusing on her relationships. She has taken on the role of a mental health advocate for athletes.
