Family is messy. When you're the greatest gymnast to ever walk the earth, that messiness doesn't just stay in the living room; it ends up on the front page of the Daily Mail and TikTok feeds. Most people see Simone Biles and think of gravity-defying flips and those shiny gold medals. But behind the scenes, there's a heavy history involving Simone Biles mother biological, Shanon Biles.
Honestly, the story isn't just about a "struggling mom." It’s about addiction, a father who had to make a brutal choice to save his grandkids, and a woman in Ohio who is still, decades later, waiting for a phone call that might never come.
The Hard Truth About Shanon Biles
Life wasn't always leotards and chalk dust for Simone. Born in Columbus, Ohio, she spent her earliest years in a situation that was basically a nightmare for any kid. Her biological mother, Shanon, was spiraling. We’re talking about deep-seated struggles with drug and alcohol addiction that made it impossible for her to provide a stable home for Simone and her three siblings.
Things got so bad that the state had to step in.
Imagine being a toddler and moving in and out of foster care. Simone has actually talked about this—remembering the hunger. She once mentioned how there was a stray cat she’d try to feed because she knew what it felt like to have nothing. It’s heavy stuff. While Shanon was fighting her demons, her four children—Ashley, Tevin, Simone, and Adria—were caught in the system.
The Turning Point in 2000
This is where the family dynamic gets complicated. Ron Biles, Shanon’s father, found out his grandkids were in foster care. He didn’t just sit back. He and his wife, Nellie, took the kids in.
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But it wasn't a permanent "happily ever after" right away. For a while, it was just temporary. Then, in 2003, Ron and Nellie officially adopted Simone and Adria. The two older siblings were adopted by Ron’s sister.
Shanon has been vocal about how much that hurt. She described it like her father "flipped a switch" on her. Once the adoption papers were signed, the boundaries were set in stone. No calls. No visits. Ron wanted a clean break so the girls could bond with their new parents without the chaos of Shanon's addiction leaking into their lives.
Where is Simone Biles mother biological now?
Fast forward to 2026, and Shanon Biles is still living in Columbus. She works at a grocery store and, by most accounts, has been living a much quieter, sober life for years. She claims she’s been clean since 2007.
But the distance remains.
During the Paris Olympics, Shanon was back in the headlines. She even held a little watch party at her house. It’s gotta be a weird feeling, right? Watching your biological daughter become a global icon from a row house in Ohio, knowing you have her phone number but promised not to use it.
"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." — Shanon Biles, in a 2024 interview.
Shanon has basically spent the last few years publicly asking for forgiveness. She’s told reporters she isn’t that person anymore. She wants to make amends. She speaks to Adria (the younger sister) a bit more often, but with Simone, it’s different. Simone is the one who has had to carry the weight of the "GOAT" title while also navigating the trauma of her early years.
Why the relationship is still strained
It’s easy to judge from the outside. People look at Shanon and see a woman who has done the work to get sober. They think, "Why won't Simone just forgive her?"
But forgiveness isn't a debt you owe someone.
Simone has been very clear: Ron and Nellie are her parents. Period. When a reporter once called them her grandparents, she shut it down fast. They were the ones who stayed up when she was sick. They were the ones who paid for the gym fees. They were the ones who provided the "second shot at life" she always talks about.
For Simone, her biological mother represents a past that was filled with uncertainty. Moving forward involves protecting the peace she’s built.
Navigating the Public Narrative
One thing that gets lost in the shuffle is the "real deal" of addiction recovery. Shanon has expressed resentment toward her father for how he’s talked about her past in documentaries. She felt he was too "harsh."
From Ron’s perspective, he was just telling the truth. He saved his granddaughters from a situation that was breaking them.
The legal records show that Shanon's journey hasn't been a straight line. There were assault charges back in 2019 and some probation time that followed. It highlights that recovery and "getting your life together" is a messy, ongoing process. It’s not just a switch you flip, even if that's how it felt when the adoption happened.
What most people get wrong
- Abandonment vs. Removal: Many people think Shanon just walked away. In reality, the children were removed by the state. It was a legal intervention because the environment was unsafe.
- The "Money" Myth: There's always a cynical crowd that thinks Shanon only wants back in because Simone is rich. While we can't know her heart, Shanon has consistently said she just wants a "sit down" to explain her side.
- The Sibling Connection: The four Biles siblings are actually quite close with each other, even if their relationship with their biological mother varies wildly.
Moving Forward: Actionable Insights for Families
The saga of Simone Biles mother biological isn't just celebrity gossip. It’s a case study in kinship adoption and the boundaries required when dealing with substance abuse in the family.
If you're navigating a similar family dynamic, here are a few things to keep in mind:
- Respect the "Adoptive" Boundary: For the child, the person who showed up is the parent. Forcing a biological connection before the child is ready can cause more trauma.
- Sobriety is the Baseline, Not the Finish Line: Being sober is a massive achievement, but it doesn't automatically erase the years of instability that came before it. Rebuilding trust takes twice as long as building it the first time.
- The Power of "Kinship Care": The Biles story is a huge win for kinship adoption (relatives adopting relatives). It kept the sisters together and kept them within their family tree, which research shows usually leads to better outcomes for kids in the system.
- Wait for the Invitation: Shanon’s current strategy of "waiting for Simone to come to me" is actually the healthiest move she can make. Pushing into the life of someone who has moved on usually backfires.
Simone Biles has already given the world everything on the mat. She doesn't owe the public a reconciliation story just to wrap things up with a bow. Whether she ever walks through that door in Columbus is entirely up to her—and that's exactly how it should be.