Brief Introduction of Simone Biles
Simone Biles, born Simone Arianne Biles Owens, is an American artistic gymnast widely regarded as the most decorated and arguably the greatest gymnast of all time. With a record-breaking collection of Olympic and World Championship medals, Biles has consistently pushed the boundaries of the sport, introducing complex skills that bear her name. Her journey from a young prodigy to an international icon has not only captivated audiences with her unparalleled athletic prowess but also inspired vital conversations around mental health in elite sports. Biles’ influence extends far beyond the gymnastics arena, cementing her legacy as a powerful advocate and role model for current and future generations.
Simone Biles Overview
| Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Simone Arianne Biles Owens |
| Date of Birth | March 14, 1997 |
| Age (as of August 2025) | 28 years old |
| Birthplace | Columbus, Ohio, U.S. |
| Hometown | Spring, Texas, U.S. |
| Nationality | American, also holds Belizean citizenship |
| Height | 4 ft 8 in (142 cm) |
| Profession | Artistic Gymnast |
| Spouse | Jonathan Owens (m. 2023) |
| Family | Adopted by maternal grandparents Ron and Nellie Biles |
| Olympic Medals | 11 (7 Gold, 2 Silver, 2 Bronze) |
| World Championship Medals | 30 (23 Gold, 4 Silver, 3 Bronze) |
| Net Worth (as of 2025) | Estimated $25 million |
Early Life and Education of Simone Biles
Simone Arianne Biles was born on March 14, 1997, in Columbus, Ohio. Her early childhood was marked by challenges, as her birth mother, Shanon Biles, struggled with substance abuse, leading to Simone and her three siblings (Adria, Ashley, and Tevin) entering foster care. In 2000, Simone and her younger sister, Adria, were taken in temporarily by their maternal grandfather, Ron Biles, and his second wife, Nellie Cayetano Biles, in Spring, Texas. The couple formally adopted Simone and Adria in 2003, providing them with a stable and loving home.
Biles’ introduction to gymnastics was serendipitous, occurring at the age of six during a day-care field trip to Bannon’s Gymnastix. The instructors quickly recognized her natural talent and potential, suggesting she continue with the sport. She soon enrolled in an optional training program at Bannon’s, where she trained for 11 years under the direction of her coach, Aimee Boorman. Simone attended Benfer Elementary School before deciding to be homeschooled in 2012. This decision allowed her to dedicate approximately 32 hours a week to her rigorous training schedule, ultimately enabling her to finish high school in 2015. Though she initially committed to UCLA, Biles turned professional in 2015, forfeiting her NCAA eligibility to pursue her burgeoning elite gymnastics career.
Simone Biles’ Career
Simone Biles’ career journey is a narrative of unprecedented dominance, groundbreaking skill, and profound resilience. She began her elite gymnastics career at age 14 in 2011, making her senior international debut in March 2013 at the American Cup. By October 2013, at just 16 years old, she had already clinched two gold medals at the World Artistic Gymnastics Championships in Antwerp, including the coveted all-around title, marking her as the first African American woman to achieve this feat. This breakthrough firmly established her as a rising star in the sport.
Over the next few years, Biles continued to dominate the World Championships, securing four gold medals in 2014 and another four in 2015, making her the first woman to win three consecutive World all-around titles. Her consistency and the high degree of difficulty in her routines across all four events—vault, uneven bars, balance beam, and floor exercise—set her apart.
The 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics marked her highly anticipated Olympic debut, where she led the “Final Five” U.S. team to a gold medal. Individually, Biles delivered a historic performance, earning four gold medals (team, all-around, vault, and floor exercise) and a bronze medal on the balance beam. This made her the first female U.S. gymnast to win four gold medals at a single Games, setting an American record for women’s gymnastics.
After a brief hiatus, during which she revealed she was a victim of Larry Nassar’s abuse, Biles returned to competition in 2018. At the 2018 U.S. National Championships, she became the first female gymnast in nearly 25 years to win all five events, securing a record-setting fifth all-around title. Her dominance continued at the 2019 World Championships, where she triumphed with five more gold medals, including her fifth individual all-around title. During this competition, she debuted two new eponymous skills: the “Biles II” on floor exercise (a triple-twisting double-tucked somersault) and the “Biles” on balance beam (a double-twisting double-tucked somersault dismount).
The Tokyo 2020 (held in 2021) Olympic Games presented a significant turning point in Biles’ career. Amid immense pressure and facing a mental block known as the “twisties”—a disorienting loss of spatial awareness during aerial maneuvers—she made the courageous decision to withdraw from several events. Her partial withdrawal, which resulted in a silver medal with the team and a bronze on the balance beam, sparked a global conversation about athlete mental health and prioritizing well-being over performance.
Following her break, Biles made a triumphant return to competition in 2023, showcasing her continued excellence and renewed focus. She won her eighth U.S. national all-around title at the 2023 U.S. National Championships, breaking a record set in 1933 and becoming the oldest woman at 26 to win the title. Her remarkable comeback continued into 2024, where she secured her ninth all-around title at the U.S. National Gymnastics Championships, further solidifying her status as the most decorated gymnast.
At the Olympic Games Paris 2024, Biles once again made history. She helped Team USA win the Olympic team title and became the first woman to win two Olympic all-around golds non-consecutively, securing gold in the individual all-around. She also took home vault gold and floor exercise silver, bringing her total Olympic medal count to 11 (7 gold, 2 silver, 2 bronze). Her performance in Paris was widely described as her “redemption tour,” demonstrating her resilience and continued pursuit of excellence.
Simone Biles Personal Life & Family
Simone Biles grew up in a loving and supportive home provided by her maternal grandparents, Ron and Nellie Biles, who adopted her and her younger sister Adria. Her adoptive mother, Nellie, has Belizean roots, and Simone considers Belize her second home, holding Belizean citizenship. The Biles family practices Catholicism.
In her adult life, Simone Biles found love with NFL player Jonathan Owens. They met in March 2020 through the celebrity dating app Raya, shortly before the pandemic. Owens initially admitted he didn’t know who she was, a fact Biles reportedly found appealing. The couple got engaged on February 15, 2022, and officially married in a courthouse ceremony in Houston, Texas, on April 22, 2023. A more lavish destination wedding with 144 guests followed on May 6, 2023, in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. Biles expressed feeling “luxurious, beautiful, kind of on top of the world” on her wedding day.
Biles often attends her husband’s football games, showing strong support for his career, including his time with the Green Bay Packers and currently with the Chicago Bears. In 2025, the couple celebrated their second anniversary and were moving into a new home in Texas. Biles has openly discussed that marriage has shifted her perspective on gymnastics, making it feel less like an “end all be all” and more like a privilege, as she now gets to “go home to my husband, to my dogs, to my house and all of the things.” The couple has also discussed having children, with Biles stating in 2024 that she “most definitely” sees herself as a mom in the future, although they have goals to achieve before starting a family.
Awards and Achievements of Simone Biles
Simone Biles is the most decorated American gymnast and holds numerous records in the sport. Her extraordinary career is marked by an unparalleled collection of medals and honors:
Olympic Games
| Year | Event | Medal |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 Rio de Janeiro | Team All-Around | Gold |
| 2016 Rio de Janeiro | Individual All-Around | Gold |
| 2016 Rio de Janeiro | Vault | Gold |
| 2016 Rio de Janeiro | Floor Exercise | Gold |
| 2016 Rio de Janeiro | Balance Beam | Bronze |
| 2020 Tokyo (held 2021) | Team All-Around | Silver |
| 2020 Tokyo (held 2021) | Balance Beam | Bronze |
| 2024 Paris | Team All-Around | Gold |
| 2024 Paris | Individual All-Around | Gold |
| 2024 Paris | Vault | Gold |
| 2024 Paris | Floor Exercise | Silver |
World Championships
- Total Medals: 30 (23 Gold, 4 Silver, 3 Bronze)
- Most World Gold Medals: Record 23
- Most World All-Around Titles: Record 6 (2013, 2014, 2015, 2018, 2019, 2023)
- First American to win a medal on every event at a World Championship (2018)
- First female gymnast to win three consecutive World all-around titles (2013-2015)
United States National Championships
- Most National All-Around Championships: Record 9 (2013-2016, 2018-2019, 2021, 2023-2024)
- Oldest female gymnast to win the national all-around title (at 26 in 2023)
Eponymous Skills
Biles has five unique, high-difficulty skills named after her:
- Biles (Vault): Yurchenko half on–straight front salto double twist off
- Biles II (Vault): Yurchenko double pike
- Biles (Balance Beam): Double-twisting double tucked salto dismount
- Biles (Floor Exercise): Double layout salto half out
- Biles II (Floor Exercise): Triple-twisting double tucked salto (also known as “triple double”)
Other Honors
- Presidential Medal of Freedom (2022)
- Laureus World Sportswoman of the Year (multiple times) and Sportswoman of the Year (2025)
- Named among TIME’s Most Influential People of 2025
- First American female gymnast to be the flag bearer in the closing ceremonies of the 2016 Summer Olympics.
Simone Biles Net Worth and Income
As of 2025, Simone Biles’ net worth is estimated to be around $25 million, making her one of the wealthiest Olympic athletes worldwide and the richest gymnast in history. The majority of her income stems from lucrative endorsement deals and sponsorships, significantly outweighing her earnings from gymnastics competitions.
While Olympic prize money awards are $37,500 for gold, $22,500 for silver, and $15,000 for bronze, Biles has earned approximately $147,500 from Olympic prize money across all her medals. However, her prominence and marketability have attracted numerous major brands. She has partnered with companies such as Athleta (her primary sponsor since leaving Nike in 2021), Visa, UberEats, United Airlines, Subway, and MasterClass. These endorsement deals generate an estimated $5 million to $10 million per year, with her earnings reaching approximately $10 million in 2022 alone due to high-profile campaigns like a Super Bowl advertisement. Biles’ decision to switch from Nike to Athleta was strategic, as Athleta’s values aligned more with her focus on empowerment and being a voice for females and children.
Beyond endorsements, Biles also earns income from appearances, such as the “Gold Over America” tour, which ran from September to November 2024. Her financial portfolio also includes property investments, such as a new home being built in Texas in 2025. In 2023, Biles was recognized as the 16th highest-paid women’s athlete.
Legacy and Influence
Simone Biles’ legacy extends far beyond her astounding medal count; she has fundamentally transformed the sport of gymnastics and influenced conversations on a global scale. Her innovative and incredibly difficult routines have pushed the boundaries of what is physically possible in artistic gymnastics, inspiring countless athletes and leading to the creation of new eponymous skills. She is recognized for her consistency and the complexity of her performances, setting new standards for excellence and innovation.
Perhaps her most profound impact lies in her courageous advocacy for mental health. Her decision to withdraw from several events at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics due to the “twisties” brought critical attention to the immense pressures faced by elite athletes. By openly discussing her struggles and emphasizing the importance of therapy, Biles has become a prominent mental health advocate, destigmatizing mental health challenges in sports and encouraging athletes to prioritize their well-being. Her actions shifted the narrative from solely focusing on winning medals to championing athlete mental health, earning her a spot on TIME’s Most Influential People of 2025 list.
Biles also uses her platform to advocate for children in foster care, working with organizations like the Friends with Children nonprofit, drawing from her own personal experiences. Her public image is one of strength, vulnerability, and authenticity, making her a relatable and inspiring figure for millions worldwide.
Interesting Facts about Simone Biles
- Simone Biles is the shortest of all 555 athletes who represented the United States at the 2016 Summer Olympics, standing at 4 feet 8 inches tall. This shorter stature is actually an advantage in gymnastics, contributing to better balance and agility.
- She has four difficult gymnastics moves named after her: two vaults, one balance beam dismount, and two floor exercise elements.
- Biles loves pizza and often treats herself to pepperoni pizza after gymnastics meets.
- She released her autobiography, “Courage to Soar: A Body in Motion, A Life in Balance,” in 2017.
- When she first started dating her now-husband, Jonathan Owens, he did not know who she was.
- Simone Biles has her own emoji, called “Simoji.”
- She views success differently now, defining it as “showing up, being in a good mental space, having fun, and letting whatever happens happen,” rather than purely by external validation.
- Biles trains extensively, having been homeschooled from 2012 to 2015 to dedicate around 32 hours a week to gymnastics.
- She has openly stated, “You will not always be strong, but you can always be brave,” reflecting her philosophy on mental health and resilience.
Controversies
While Simone Biles’ career has been largely marked by triumph and admiration, she has also navigated significant challenges and moments of public scrutiny. One of the most prominent instances occurred at the Tokyo 2020 (held in 2021) Olympic Games when she withdrew from most events, citing mental health concerns and experiencing the “twisties.” This decision, though widely praised for its bravery and for sparking crucial conversations about athlete well-being, also drew some criticism and questions regarding her ability to perform under pressure.
Another significant, albeit not personal, challenge Biles faced was her revelation in 2018 that she was a victim of Larry Nassar, the former doctor for the U.S. national gymnastics team, who was convicted of sexually abusing numerous athletes. Biles was a vocal survivor in the widespread scandal, advocating for accountability and reform within USA Gymnastics.
More recently, in June 2025, Biles appeared to delete her X (formerly Twitter) account after facing backlash for publicly supporting a transgender teen athlete. This incident followed an online exchange where Biles weighed in on a discussion about fairness and inclusion in women’s sports. While her posts supporting the teen were removed, she clarified her stance on Instagram, stating her objection was to singling out children for public scrutiny rather than advocating for policies compromising fairness in women’s sports.
Social Media Presence
Simone Biles maintains a significant and engaged presence across various social media platforms, connecting with millions of fans worldwide.
- Instagram (@simonebiles): As of August 22, 2025, Simone Biles has approximately 12.3 million followers on Instagram. She frequently shares updates on her training, personal life, travel, and advocacy work.
- X (formerly Twitter): As of June 2025, Simone Biles’ X account appeared to be deleted or deactivated following an online discussion. Prior to this, she had an audience of around 1.8 to 1.9 million followers.
- YouTube: Biles’ YouTube channel has approximately 2,700 subscribers as of August 20, 2025.
Final Words about Simone Biles
Simone Biles stands as an unparalleled figure in the history of gymnastics, her name synonymous with pushing the boundaries of human capability and redefining athletic excellence. As of August 2025, she continues to solidify her legacy, having recently added to her extensive Olympic medal collection at the Paris 2024 Games, completing what she termed her “redemption tour.” Her journey is not merely one of collecting medals, but of profound personal growth, resilience, and unwavering advocacy.
Beyond her breathtaking routines, Biles’ courage in openly addressing mental health struggles has created a lasting impact, destigmatizing important conversations and empowering athletes to prioritize their well-being. Her influence is recognized globally, earning her a place among TIME’s Most Influential People and the Laureus Sportswoman of the Year award in 2025. With her marriage to Jonathan Owens, she has also found a supportive personal life, emphasizing that gymnastics is a privilege rather than an all-consuming identity.
As Simone Biles continues to inspire and innovate, her legacy as the greatest of all time in gymnastics, a fierce advocate for mental health, and a remarkable role model remains firmly cemented. Her future plans, while potentially including a family with her husband, will undoubtedly continue to shape the world of sports and beyond.
