Simone Biles shares the same last name with her birth mother, Shanon Biles, despite being adopted. This fact prompts curiosity about her family history and the circumstances of her adoption. The answer reveals a touching story of love, sacrifice, and second chances.
Simone Biles is celebrated for her incredible achievements in gymnastics. But behind her success lies a remarkable rise from difficulty and her family’s support. Adopted at six, Simone was given the stability she needed to excel.
Shanon Biles, Simone’s biological mother, now shares her regrets for not doing right by her children. Where is she now and what prompted her to abandon Simone and her siblings?
The Early Years: A Struggle for Survival
Simone’s childhood was far from the picture of stability and security she portrays today. Before she became a global gymnastics icon, she was just a little girl struggling to survive. She lived in an environment overshadowed by her birth mother’s battles with drug and alcohol addiction.
Shanon was unable to provide for her four children, often leaving them hungry and neglected. The situation was so dire that Simone and her siblings sometimes went without food, while their mother fed a stray cat that roamed their home.
This neglect didn’t go unnoticed. Concerned neighbors eventually called social services. This led to a pivotal intervention that would change Simone’s life forever. The children were taken from Shanon’s care and placed into the foster system.
Being taken from their mother marked the beginning of a new chapter in their lives. These early years were filled with uncertainty and hardship. However, they also set the stage for the eventual adoption that would provide Simone with the support she needed to thrive.
The Adoption: A New Beginning
Simone and her younger sister Adria were fortunate to find a new home with Ron and Nellie Biles. At just six years old, Simone was adopted by the couple, a decision that brought the girls from Ohio to Texas.
Their move was more than just a change of scenery—it was a chance for a fresh start. Despite this significant life change, one thing remained constant: the Biles name.
By adopting Simone and Adria, Ron and Nellie provided them with a loving home. They also preserved their connection to their family heritage through their last name.
This continuity of the Biles name symbolizes both the girls’ past and the new life they were beginning. The adoption gave Simone the stability and love she needed, setting her on a path that would eventually lead her to the Olympic podium.
Ron and Nellie didn’t just provide Simone with a home. They gave her the unwavering support and love every child needs to thrive. From the moment they adopted Simone and Adria, they made it their mission to be there for their daughters, both emotionally and physically.
This commitment was especially evident in their involvement in Simone’s gymnastics career. Nellie and Ron attended every one of Simone’s competitions, becoming her most dedicated supporters.
Simone has often credited her adoptive parents with shaping her into the person she is today. She acknowledges that without their love and guidance, she wouldn’t have reached the heights she has in her career. Their encouragement helped her push boundaries and overcome the challenges of being a world-class athlete.
Nellie and Ron’s influence extends beyond the gym. They taught Simone the importance of resilience, hard work, and treating others with kindness. She believes these values have shaped her as an athlete and as a person.
The bond between Simone and her parents is so strong that she often relies on their presence to calm her nerves during competitions. This was particularly evident in 2021 when she expressed concern about competing in the Tokyo Olympics without them in the stands, a rarity for the Biles family.
Challenges of the Tokyo Olympics
The Tokyo Olympics in 2021 were unlike any other, not just for the athletes but also for their families. Due to the pandemic, the Olympic organizers announced that no foreign spectators would be allowed to attend.
This rule meant Simone’s parents, who had never missed a competition, would not be there to cheer her on in person. This news was devastating for Simone. She had grown accustomed to their presence, and the thought of competing without them in the stands was unsettling.
The Olympic Games are a high-pressure environment. Therefore, Simone had come to rely on the calming presence of her parents in the audience to help her stay grounded and focused.
As the Olympics approached, Simone expressed her concerns about not having her parents there to support her. She shared how she often felt uneasy until she could spot them in the crowd, their presence grounding her and giving her the confidence to perform.
Simone and Nellie Biles, dated August 9, 2024 | Source: Instagram/nblouise110
“I don’t feel set and comfortable until I find where they are in the crowd,” she admitted. Simone was worried she might not perform at her best without her parents’ familiar faces in the arena.
Nellie and Ron, while heartbroken about not being able to attend, understood the situation and continued to support Simone from afar. Nellie expressed her heartbreak over not being at the Tokyo Games. She knew how important it was for Simone to have her family close.
Her Relationship with Her Biological Mother
While Simone enjoys a close and supportive relationship with her adoptive parents, her connection with her biological mother, Shanon, is much more distant.
The distance between them was particularly evident during Simone’s wedding to NFL player Jonathan Owens in 2022. Shanon was not invited to the wedding.
It was her father, Ron, who walked her down the aisle. The decision to exclude Shanon from such an important event underscored the ongoing estrangement between mother and daughter.
Shanon has expressed her sadness over not being part of such a significant event in Simone’s life. However, she also understands that rebuilding trust and a relationship with Simone will take time.
Over the years, Shanon has expressed a desire to reconnect with Simone, hoping for forgiveness and a chance to build a relationship. However, this has yet to materialize in a meaningful way.
Shanon has so far worked hard to turn her life around. She is clean and sober today, and although she acknowledges that she will always be a recovering addict, she speaks openly about her journey toward recovery.
Despite her progress, the emotional distance between Shanon and Simone remains. Shanon lives in the hope that one day Simone will reach out to her so that they can begin to mend their relationship.
She has expressed a deep desire to ask Simone for forgiveness and to build a new connection moving forward, but she is waiting for Simone to take the first step.
This distance is not characterized by open conflict but rather by the absence of communication. Shanon has shared that what she knows about Simone’s life comes through Ron.
Although she wishes to be more involved in Simone’s life, the reality is that their relationship has been largely shaped by the past, with its challenges and unspoken pain.
Her hope for reconciliation is tempered by the reality that Simone has built her life and career without her. Though they share a last name, the emotional distance between them underscores the complexity of their relationship.
Why Do They Share the Same Last Name?
The fact that Simone shares the same last name as her biological mother, despite being adopted, is not merely a coincidence. When Simone was adopted, it was by her maternal grandfather, Ron, who is also Shanon’s father.
As a result, the Biles name was carried over to Simone and her sister Adria, preserving their connection to their biological family while giving them the new start they so desperately needed.
Simone’s journey shows the life-changing power of love, support, and second chances. Adopted by her grandparents when she was young, Simone got the stable foundation she needed to succeed in life.
Simone and Nellie Biles, dated August 6, 2021 | Source: Instagram/simonebiles
The Biles name symbolizes the strong family ties that have endured despite the challenges of her upbringing. Although her relationship with her birth mother is distant, the influence of her adoptive parents is clear.
Throughout her career, Simone has been surrounded by a family that has supported her unconditionally. This support extends beyond her adoptive parents to her siblings as well.
After the 2024 Paris Olympics, where Simone made a triumphant comeback, her adoptive brother, Ron Jr., expressed his pride and love for her in a heartfelt social media post.
He celebrated her achievements and shared how emotional it was for him to witness her success firsthand, emphasizing the deep bond that the family shares.
Ron Jr.’s words echoed the sentiment that has been central to Simone’s life: that her family’s unwavering support has been a crucial element in her journey.
They gave Simone Biles a loving home and taught her values that helped her through life’s ups and downs, including the pressures of top-level gymnastics. Their support has been key to Simone’s success, making her an Olympic champion and a role model for millions.