On her 18th birthday back in 2015, Simone Biles decided to play a harmless prank on her mom, Nellie. “Tell me what you want for your birthday,” the mother asked Biles, who responded, “Go clubbing.” Nellie’s reaction? “Jaw drops, chokes, almost passes out.” But before she could panic any further, Simone Biles assured her, “I’m kidding mom. lol.” This was 10 years ago, but this year (March 14), she turned 28. What has remained the same is her bond with her parents.
Ron and Nellie Biles, her parents, adopted Simone and Adria after they were sent to live in foster care. When they got to know the kids were in foster care, Ron immediately told the social worker who informed them, “I said, ’send them to me.’” So when Biles talks about her parents, it is always with a huge gratitude. In fact, while competing on ‘Dancing With the Stars’ season 24 in 2017, she said, “My parents saved me. They’ve set huge examples of how to treat other people, and they’ve been there to support me since day one. There’s nothing I could say to them to thank them enough.”
With Simone Biles turning 28, mom had a short yet impactful note for her daughter, who faced several hardships, yet achieved Olympic glory. Nellie wrote on Instagram, “HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my eldest daughter/what a Blessing. May The Lord continue to Bless and keep you.” She also shared a picture of Biles pouting! Both Nellie and Ronald were a constant presence in Paris as it was supposed to be the mightiest test Biles had been through so far. Not just this, they’ve been close through all the highs and lows in her life. Rio, Tokyo, the ‘twisties,’ you name it.
Similarly, Biles’ husband, Jonathan Owens, has been there for her, and no wonder, he too had a message for the gymnast. You see, she just got back from two back-to-back vacations. The first was her delayed honeymoon with Jonathan Owens in South Africa and, most recently, her girls’ trip to the Bahamas. And from there, she joined her husband for some birthday shopping!
https://www.instagram.com/nblouise110/?utm_source=ig_embed&ig_rid=46053ab0-73cc-400e-8813-f96a5c12e451&ig_mid=029A2332-6F65-4B78-B00D-084B669460F7
She was seen shopping for boots. Why boots? Well, the couple had the perfect idea to celebrate not only Biles’ birthday but also her Texas roots. So in updates shared on their stories, Biles and Owens took a mirror selfie while dressed in Texas fashion. While the Chicago Bears safety was seen wearing a black button-down shirt with matching pants, booths, and a cowboy hat, Biles rocked a sleeveless cow print crop top and white denim miniskirt, a cowboy hat, and hightop boots.
But even on her birthday, she had work on her mind as she sat in a chair and got her braids done. “Shoot day!” she wrote. While Simone Biles has always been receptive and welcoming to her birthday wishes, there was one time she wasn’t. And when was that?
Simone Biles once clapped back on her birthday!
In 2020, on Simone Biles’s birthday, USA Gymnastics added an X post wishing the gymnast. “HAPPY BIRTHDAY to the most decorated gymnast of all time, @simonebiles! We know you will only continue to amaze us and make history!” But this, only this simple wish, created news after the gymnasts’ response.
Instead of accepting the wish, Simone Biles commented, “How about you amaze me and do the right thing… have an independent investigation.” She said this in context to the Larry Nassar case, but it wasn’t the first time she demanded accountability. In Feb. 2020, she had also tweeted, “Heading to team camp. Still want answers from USAG and USOPC. Wish they BOTH wanted an independent investigation as much as the survivors & I do. Anxiety high. Hard not to think about everything that I DON’T WANT TO THINK ABOUT!!! “
In 2019, Simone Biles bravely stood with her co-athletes in the Larry Nassar case after dozens of athletes, including Biles, talked about him abusing them. She even criticized USAG’s proposed $215 million settlement for survivors of Nassar’s abuse.
In fact, more than 150 athletes accused him of sexual misconduct. This includes those from the ‘Fierce Five’ team that won gold at the 2012 Olympics.
But, a lot has changed in the last few years in the sport and Simone Biles’ life. What do you think?
