"I barely remembered Shanon" - When Simone Biles reflected on meeting her biological mother when she visited the gymnast and siblings in foster care

2024 U.S. Olympic Team Trials – Gymnastics - Day 2 - Source: Getty
Simone Biles during the 2024 U.S. Olympic Team Gymnastics Trials in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Getty Images)

In her autobiography published in 2016, Simone Biles reflected on meeting her biological mother Shannon when she visited the gymnast and her siblings in foster care. Biles was three years old when she along with her siblings - Adria, Ashley, and Tevin were placed in the foster care system.

They were taken into foster care as their biological mother struggled with drug and alcohol addiction and couldn't provide for them. The siblings, however, were later adopted, with the gymnast and Adria being taken under the care of Ronald and Nellie Biles, whereas Ashley and Tevin were adopted by Biles' great-aunt.

In her autobiography, Courage to Soar: A Body in Motion, A Life in Balance, Biles reflected on the moment when her Shanon visited the siblings in foster care in Spring.

Biles remembered that as a 3-year-old, she noticed how much her brother and sister missed Shanon. But since she hadn't lived with her biological mother as long as her siblings, Biles barely remembered her and felt distant and aware that their stable life in Spring was about to change.

"I could see how much my brother and sister had missed Shanon and how much she'd missed them," Biles wrote. "I don't think anyone noticed how quiet I was, standing off to the side. I was only 3 years old, but I knew right then that our calm, predictable life in Spring was about to change. Maybe that's why I hung back."

Biles added:

"Since I hadn't lived with Shanon as long as Ashley and Tevin had, I barely remembered her."

Entering into foster care with her infant sister, Biles took the role of her mother for her sister Adria.


Simone Biles' biological mother Shanon hopes for reconciliation with the gymnast

Simone Biles looks at the 2024 U.S. Olympic Team Gymnastics Trials at Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Getty Images)
Simone Biles looks at the 2024 U.S. Olympic Team Gymnastics Trials at Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Getty Images)

Simone Biles' biological mother recently expressed her desire to reconcile with her daughter. In an interview with Daily Mail following Biles' appearance at the Paris Games, Shanon, 52, who currently resides in Columbus, Ohio, and works as a cashier at Save A Lot, asked for forgiveness, hoping for a patch-up.

"I would like to make amends with Simone personally – I'm just waiting for her and Adria. 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."

Although her mother hopes for reconciliation, Simone Biles does not intend to do the same.

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Edited by Vaishnavi Iyer
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