"Oh, I was a bossy little thing...I had Adria under my complete control" - When Simone Biles recalled taking care of her sister as a 6-year-old kid

Simone Biles
Simone Biles took care of her youngester Adria Biles after being sent to foster (Image: All via Getty)

Simone Biles once revealed she would always hold the hand of her younger sister, Adria Biles, during their time in foster care and at their grandparents' house. The sisters were later adopted by their grandfather, Ronald Biles, and his wife, Nellie Biles.

Biles' parents suffered from alcohol and drug abuse and eventually decided to send their four children, Simone, Adria, Tevin, and Ashley, to foster care. The children were frequently visited by their grandparents before being adopted three years later.

Nellie and Ronald Biles adopted Simone and Adria, who were six and three years old respectively, while the other two siblings were adopted by their great-aunt. Adria was the youngest of the four and less than a year old when they were sent to foster care and it was Simone who took care of her during those years.

Recalling her childhood in her 2016 memoir 'Courage to Soar: A Body in Motion, A Life in Balance', Biles wrote she used to be in complete charge of Adria.

"I had Adria under my complete control, taking her everywhere in the house and yard with me. I seemed to believe that I was in charge of her, and even with our grandparents now looking out for us, I would always hold her hand and wipe her face if she was crying, and I’m sure I also told her what to do and how to do it," she wrote.

The 27-year-old further revealed that she had a 'bossy' character.

"Oh, I was a bossy little thing, even though I couldn’t pronounce my gs properly! My big-sister protectiveness didn’t change right away. Actually, it still hasn’t changed. Even now, I watch out for Adria," she said.

Adria also followed in Simone Biles' footsteps to become a gymnast. She competed in junior elite levels and trained with the eleven-time Olympic medalist until 2016.


"My sister has always been fearless" - Adria Biles on growing up with 'bossy' Simone Biles

Los Angeles Premiere Of Netflix's "Simone Biles Rising: Part 2" - Simone Biles and family in attendance (Source: Getty)
Los Angeles Premiere Of Netflix's "Simone Biles Rising: Part 2" - Simone Biles and family in attendance (Source: Getty)

Speaking about their childhood in an op-ed for ESPN, Adria Biles claimed her elder sister Simone Biles was fearless and would never be scared of anything.

"My sister has always been fearless. When we were little kids, we'd stand on a railing on the second floor of our house, then jump off onto the couch down below on the first floor. She'd go first, and I'd follow. Nothing scared her," she said.

During an appearance in the Simone vs Herself documentary, Adria described Simone as having a 'bossy' nature.

"Well, I thought growing up it was like oh my god she’s so bossy, but now I know it’s like she was trying to protect me,” she said.

After moving away from gymnastics, the 25-year-old has remained a professional dancer for Houston's baseball team and competed on the reality TV show 'Claim to Fame' in 2022.

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Edited by Prathik BR
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