If you’ve ever watched Simone Biles stick a landing—that gravity-defying moment where she just stays put like she’s glued to the floor—it’s easy to think her whole life has been that stable. It hasn't. Long before the gold medals and the "GOAT" status, Simone’s life was anything but certain. Most people know she was adopted by her grandparents, but the actual "why" is a lot heavier than a simple family arrangement. It involves a "hungry and afraid" toddler, a foster care system that separated siblings, and a grandfather who basically had to decide between being a grandpa and being a dad.
Honestly, the story of why was simone biles adopted isn't just about sports greatness. It’s a messy, human story about addiction, a broken home in Columbus, Ohio, and a second chance that almost didn't happen.
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The Reality of Why Was Simone Biles Adopted
Back in the late 90s, things were looking pretty grim for the Biles family in Ohio. Simone’s biological mother, Shanon Biles, was struggling hard with drug and alcohol addiction. It wasn't just a "rough patch." It was the kind of struggle that meant the kids weren't being fed.
Simone has been pretty open about this in recent years. She’s told stories about a cat in the house getting fed while she and her siblings went hungry. That’s a heavy memory for a three-year-old to carry. Because of the substance abuse and the neglect, social services eventually stepped in. Simone and her three siblings—Ashley, Tevin, and Adria—were removed from Shanon's care and placed into foster care.
Imagine being three years old and suddenly living with strangers.
Simone spent about three years in the foster system. While she’s said her foster home was actually decent, the uncertainty was the real killer. You never know if you're staying or going. In 2000, her maternal grandfather, Ron Biles, and his wife Nellie, heard the kids were in the system. They lived down in Spring, Texas. They didn't just sit there; they brought the kids down to Texas to stay with them temporarily.
The "Flipped Switch": From Grandparents to Parents
The transition from "grandpa" to "dad" wasn't some instant, magical thing. It was actually a legal and emotional process that took a few years. Initially, the plan was for the kids to go back to Shanon once she got her life together. But she couldn't. The addiction was too strong at the time.
In 2003, when Simone was six, Ron and Nellie made it official. They adopted Simone and her younger sister, Adria. This is the part where things get a bit complicated for the family. Ron's sister ended up adopting the two older siblings, Ashley and Tevin, who moved to Ohio. The family was split, but they were safe.
Simone vividly remembers the day it became official. Ron and Nellie sat them down and basically said, "You can call us Mom and Dad now if you want."
"My parents saved me," Biles said during her time on Dancing With The Stars. "They’ve set huge examples of how to treat other people, and they’ve been there to support me since day one."
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It’s kind of wild to think about. If Ron hadn't made that choice, Simone might have stayed in the Ohio foster system. She might never have gone on that daycare field trip to a gymnastics center where a coach saw her mimicking the older girls and sent a note home to her parents. That note changed everything.
A Complicated Relationship with Shanon
A lot of people want to paint Shanon Biles as a villain, but that’s not really how Simone sees it. Shanon has been sober for years now. She’s spoken to the Daily Mail and other outlets about how "hard-headed" she was back then, screaming that she wanted her kids back but eventually realizing she couldn't care for them.
When the adoption papers were signed, Ron reportedly "flipped a switch." He cut off communication for six years to let the girls transition and bond with their new parents. It sounds harsh, but Nellie has spoken about how she prayed for that bond—that "I would die for these children" feeling—to kick in. It eventually did.
Today, Simone and Shanon have a "polite" but mostly estranged relationship. Shanon watches the meets from afar. She has Simone's number but says she won't call it; she's waiting for Simone to be ready. It’s a reminder that adoption doesn't always have a "perfect" ending where everyone sits around a Thanksgiving table together. It’s nuanced.
Why This Still Matters in 2026
We’re talking about this now because Simone has become a massive advocate for foster kids. She works with organizations like Friends of the Children, providing mentors for kids who are exactly where she was twenty-plus years ago. She knows that "foster kid" shouldn't be the only title these kids ever have.
Her success isn't just about her "Goldie" medals. It's about the fact that she had a foundation. Nellie and Ron didn't just give her a home; they gave her a launchpad. They even built a gym, the World Champions Centre, so she wouldn't have to move around to follow coaches. That’s "extra" parent energy right there.
Actionable Takeaways from Simone’s Journey
If you’re looking at Simone’s story and wondering how it applies to real life, here are a few things to keep in mind:
- Kinship Care is Vital: When family members step in (like Ron and Nellie), it often leads to better long-term outcomes for kids in the system.
- Adoption is a Process, Not an Event: The "bonding" Nellie talked about took time. It wasn't instant the day the papers were signed.
- Language Matters: Simone is very clear—Ron and Nellie are her parents. Period.
- Support Systems Win: Simone’s career survived "the twisties" and immense pressure partly because she has a family unit that she can retreat to when the world gets too loud.
The "why" behind Simone Biles' adoption is simple and tragic: her biological mother wasn't able to provide a safe home. But the "how" it turned out is extraordinary. It took a grandfather willing to become a father again in his 50s and a grandmother willing to open her heart to two little girls who were "hungry and afraid."
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To understand Simone Biles, you have to understand that she isn't just a gymnast who happened to be adopted. She’s a person whose life was redirected by a choice made in a Texas living room in 2003. That's the real "sticking the landing" moment of her life.