Simone Biles’ Family Journey: Where Are Her Biological Parents Now?
Olympic gymnast Simone Biles has been supported by a unique and unconventional family throughout her illustrious career. Raised by her grandparents, Ron and Nellie Biles, after her biological mother’s struggles with addiction, Simone’s family dynamic differs from the norm. With her third Olympics approaching in 2024, many fans are curious about her biological parents and their current lives.
When Was Simone Biles Adopted?
Simone Biles was born on March 14, 1997, in Columbus, Ohio. Due to her mother Shanon Biles’ ongoing battle with drug and alcohol addiction, Simone and her siblings spent significant time in foster care. In 2000, their grandfather, Ronald Biles, and his second wife, Nellie, took the children into their home in Spring, Texas. The couple legally adopted Simone and her younger sister, Adria, in 2003 when Simone was six years old. Ronald’s sister, Harriet, adopted Simone’s two older siblings.
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Shanon Biles shared in a 2016 interview with The Daily Mail that the adoption process was difficult. “When we signed the [adoption] papers, it was like my dad flipped a switch on me,” she said. “No communication, don’t call, and don’t visit. It took me six years before I saw my children again. I had to respect my dad’s decision to let the kids transition. It was hard to give them up, but I wasn’t able to care for them. I was still using, and he didn’t want me coming in and out of their lives.”
Simone has expressed her gratitude for her adoptive family’s support. On the “Call Her Daddy” podcast in April 2024, she remarked on her family’s complex dynamic, saying, “It’s a whole family tree that you’re like, ‘Don’t make me explain it. My parents are my parents. I got chosen. Feeling blessed.’”
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Where Is Simone Biles’ Biological Mother Today?
Simone and her biological mother, Shanon Biles, reconciled before the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. Shanon has had limited contact with Simone, focusing on brief, supportive messages. “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,’” Shanon told The Daily Mail. “I want to tell her what really happened when I was younger, but I keep on waiting for the right time.”
Shanon lives in Ohio with her two younger children and is now sober. While she couldn’t attend Simone’s Rio performance, she watched from home, cheering her daughter on. “I’m just here, yelling, ‘Go Simone!’ at the TV,” she said. Shanon respects the role Ron and Nellie played in raising Simone and doesn’t want to intrude on their relationship with her.
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Where Is Simone Biles’ Biological Father Today?
Simone’s biological father, Kelvin Clemons, also lives in Ohio. Shanon occasionally speaks with him, and their conversations typically revolve around Simone’s achievements. “He knows that’s his daughter and he’s very proud of her,” Shanon revealed. Kelvin follows Simone’s success from afar and remains supportive, despite not being involved in her life.
Simone Biles’ story is one of resilience and the profound impact of a supportive family. Her journey to Olympic greatness is deeply intertwined with the love and dedication of her adoptive grandparents, as well as the complex dynamics with her biological parents.