In a candid and emotional interview, Shanon Biles, the biological mother of gymnastics superstar Simone Biles, opened up about her hope for a future relationship with her daughter. Despite the years that have passed and the barriers that have grown between them, Shanon, now 52, is holding out hope that one day, Simone will reach out to her.
Shanon, who struggled with drug and alcohol addiction during Simone’s early years, made the difficult decision to give up her daughter and younger sister, Adria, to their grandparents, Ron and Nellie Biles. This decision, made out of necessity when the girls were just toddlers, changed the trajectory of their lives. The stability and support provided by Ron and Nellie in Texas allowed Simone to blossom into the record-breaking Olympic champion she is today.
“I would like to make amends with Simone personally—I’m just waiting for her and Adria,” Shanon told the Daily Mail. “I speak to Adria more than I speak to Simone. I would just ask her to forgive me. Can we move forward? Don’t judge me on my past. Let’s move forward. I’m waiting for the opportunity but I’m waiting on her to be able to come to me. Let’s sit down. I just have to be patient.”
This heartfelt plea comes just days after Simone further solidified her status as the greatest gymnast of all time at the 2024 Summer Olympics, bringing home three gold medals and a silver, increasing her career Olympic medal count to 11. Yet, even as the world celebrates Simone’s incredible achievements, the rift between mother and daughter remains.
Shanon followed Simone’s Olympic journey from her home in Columbus, Ohio—a place that holds memories of a time when Simone and Adria lived with her before bouncing around foster homes and eventually being adopted by their grandparents. Despite the physical distance and emotional separation, Shanon still feels immense pride in her daughter’s success, even as she watches from afar.
“What I hear about Simone I hear through my dad. I speak to my dad all the time. We’re good now. It was just his birthday, and I called to wish him happy birthday,” Shanon said. “If I need to know anything I call my dad. I ask him about Simone, and he keeps me posted.”
Ron and Nellie Biles, who raised Simone and Adria in Houston, Texas, provided the girls with the stability they desperately needed. Simone has always been clear about her feelings, once quickly correcting anyone who referred to Shanon as her mother. That emotional distance has only deepened over time, particularly as Simone has grown into a successful adult, now married to NFL player Jonathan Owens.
Shanon, who is now clean, sober, and working as a cashier at a discount grocery store, expressed her longing to be part of Simone’s life. “I’m not the person I used to be. I’m OK, today. I’m a loving person,” she said, reflecting on the pain of missing out on key moments in Simone’s life, including her recent wedding.
While Shanon holds a direct phone number to reach Simone, she has chosen not to use it, believing that it is up to Simone to make the first move. “I do have a direct number, but I won’t use it,” she stated. “I want her to reach out to me. She’s 27 now. She’s married. I would have liked to have been a part of that, but I just have to wait for her. You can’t push anybody.”