You’ve seen her fly. You’ve seen her land things that shouldn’t be physically possible. But when the cameras pan to the stands after a perfect Yurchenko double pike, there’s usually one face screaming louder than anyone else. She looks a lot like Simone. Honestly, the resemblance is so strong it’s a bit jarring. It’s enough to make anyone wonder: does Simone Biles have a sister, or is she just cloning herself?
The answer is a big yes. Actually, she has two.
But the story of the Biles sisters isn't just a simple "we grew up in the same house" narrative. It’s complicated, a little heartbreaking in the beginning, and ultimately a huge testament to how family can be built, not just born. Most fans know Adria Biles, the "twin" who isn't actually a twin. But there’s also Ashley, an older sister who lived a very different life.
Meet Adria Biles: The Sister Everyone Thinks Is Her Twin
If you’ve spent any time on TikTok or Instagram lately, you’ve probably seen Adria. She’s the one people constantly mistake for Simone. Seriously, they could swap places and half the world wouldn't notice until someone asked Adria to do a triple-double on floor.
Adria is about two years younger than Simone. They didn’t just grow up together; they survived together. Before the gold medals and the Wheaties boxes, they were two little girls in the foster care system. Simone has been vocal about those early years—how they were often hungry and how she felt this massive weight to protect Adria because she was "the baby."
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Eventually, their maternal grandparents, Ron and Nellie Biles, stepped in. They adopted both Simone and Adria, moving them to Texas. This is why you’ll hear Simone call Ron and Nellie "mom and dad." To her, they are.
Adria was a gymnast too. She competed at the junior elite level and even trained alongside Simone for years before hanging up the leotard in 2016. Since then, she’s carved out her own path. She was on the Houston Astros dance team (the Shooting Stars) and even popped up on the reality show Claim to Fame under the name "Louise." She didn't win, but she definitely proved she has the same competitive fire as her big sis.
The Sister You Don't See: Ashley Biles-Thomas
This is where the family tree gets a bit more complex. While Simone and Adria were being raised in Texas, their two older siblings, Ashley and Tevin, were adopted by their great-aunt and raised in Cleveland, Ohio.
Basically, the four biological siblings were split up.
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Ashley Biles-Thomas is the oldest. She’s about seven years older than Simone. Because of the distance and the way the adoption shook out, they didn't have that "sharing a bedroom and fighting over clothes" childhood that Simone and Adria had.
Honestly, Ashley’s life has been a lot rockier than the Olympic glory we see on TV. She’s struggled with legal issues over the years, including some pretty serious run-ins with the law involving drug-related charges and probation violations. It’s a stark contrast to the polished world of elite athletics, but it’s the reality of a family that was fractured by their biological mother’s struggles with addiction.
Why the "Twin" Rumors Never Die
It’s the face. It’s 100% the face.
Even though Simone is 4'8" and Adria is about 5'2", their facial features are nearly identical. Adria has joked in interviews that even in Rio and Tokyo, fans would chase her down for autographs, absolutely convinced she was the GOAT. She usually just laughs it off.
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The bond between them is clearly the "ride or die" kind. When Simone famously withdrew from events at the Tokyo Olympics to protect her mental health—the "twisties" heard 'round the world—Adria was her loudest defender on social media. She wasn't just defending an athlete; she was defending her best friend.
A Family Built on Choice
The thing about the Biles family is that it’s big. Like, really big. Besides her biological sisters, Simone also has two brothers through adoption (Ron Jr. and Adam, who are actually her biological uncles but became her brothers through the adoption process).
It’s a lot to keep track of.
But the core of it is this: does Simone Biles have a sister? Yes. She has a sister who shares her face and her past (Adria) and a sister who shares her DNA but a different history (Ashley).
If you're looking to understand the woman who transformed gymnastics, you have to look at the support system that caught her when she was just a kid in foster care. Adria was the one she protected then, and now, they’re just two sisters who steal each other's clothes and post goofy selfies.
Actionable Insights for Fans:
- Follow the Journey: If you want to see the "normal" side of Simone, follow Adria Biles on social media. She often posts the behind-the-scenes, less-filtered moments of their family life.
- Understand the Advocacy: Simone’s work with foster care organizations like Friends of the Children isn't just a PR move. It’s directly tied to her experience of being separated from her older siblings like Ashley.
- Look for the Lookalike: The next time you see a "Simone" sighting in Houston that seems a little too tall, it’s almost certainly Adria.