On Tuesday, July 30, after her big win at the 2024 Paris Olympics, Simone Biles posted an Instagram story featuring her dad watching her compete.
“My dad & his binoculars is soooo freaking cute,” she wrote about Ronald Biles, her grandfather who, along with his wife, adopted her when she was three.
Simone, now an eight-time Olympic medalist, has been open about her childhood. She and her siblings were placed in foster care when they were young because their biological mother was struggling with addiction.
Before Simone became one of the most decorated gymnasts in history, she lived in foster care with her siblings, Adria, Tevin, and Ashley.
Their mother, Shanon, was unable to take care of them. Their father was also absent. Speaking about that time, Simone has shared how difficult it was, especially dealing with hunger.
“I just remember being so hungry all the time. There was even a cat that got fed before we did,” she told CNN.
Despite the challenges, Simone and her siblings stayed in the same foster home, which she remembers as a bright spot.
During this time, her grandparents, Ronald and Nellie Biles, visited frequently. Eventually, they adopted Simone and Adria when she was six, while her other siblings were adopted by Ronald’s sister.
One unexpected event changed Simone’s life forever. A school trip was rained out, and instead of heading to a farm, her daycare took her to a gymnastics center. That was her first introduction to the sport.
“I never thought about gymnastics before that,” Simone’s mother, Nellie, recalled in the series Simone vs. Herself. But from that day on, Simone was hooked.
Ever since, Ronald and Nellie have been in the stands at every major competition. Simone has said she always looks for them in the crowd before she competes.
The only time they missed an event was at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, when fans weren’t allowed due to COVID-19 restrictions. That year, Simone withdrew from several events to focus on her mental health after experiencing a condition gymnasts call “the twisties.”
In Paris, Ronald and Nellie were back in the stands, joined by Simone’s husband, Jonathan Owens. As always, they cheered her on loudly.
“She knows where we are. She can hear me because I scream so loud,” Nellie said.
Simone also supports Friends of the Children, an organization that helps kids in foster care get long-term support. She knows firsthand how important it is to have people who believe in you.