Simone Biles: Before and Beyond the Olympic Mat

Simone Biles, America’s gymnastics goddess, didn’t just capture the hearts of everyone because of her remarkable record. Over and over again, the vibrant and bubbly Biles has been breaking records, performing stunts that have never been seen before, and inspiring her community in ways she never would’ve imagined.

While the young athlete will forever be known as an Olympic legend, throughout her life, Biles had all sorts of obstacles to overcome off and beyond the mat – especially as a child.

From her secret to her success to opening up about the harsh words she received from her coaches at the beginning, Simone Biles reveals just exactly how she overcame all of her childhood troubles to get to the triumphant top as a teenager.

Originally from Ohio

The four-time Olympic champion, Simone Biles has made it loud and clear that she’s a die-hard fan to her Texas teams when it comes down to sports. But did you know that she wasn’t actually born in Texas? Yet, the reason for how she did end up a Texas local is all part of Simone’s heroic story, and it all started in her toddler years.

On March 14, 1997 Simone Biles was born to mother Shanon Biles in Columbus, Ohio. Unfortunately, her and her siblings weren’t going to stay together as a family in Ohio for much longer, though.

Her First Family Struggle

One of the very first struggles Simone Biles and her siblings had to overcome was living with a mother who suffered from drug addiction. Thankfully her siblings had each other to relate and help each other through this obstacle, but at the end of the day, they were still all children.

Because of everything that was going on, Biles’ maternal grandparents stepped in and took care of the kids as best as they could for the time being. But when Biles was about three-years-old, her mother was dishearteningly deemed unfit, meaning all her children were going to be sent to foster care since she had lost custody.

The Reason Why Simone Doesn’t Like Cats

Even as a young toddler living with her biological mother, Biles still recalls a stray cat that was living outside. She witnessed with her own eyes how this particular cat was always well taken care of and nourished, which is something that Biles didn’t receive or feel. She confessed that as a child she was mad at the cat since it was always fed and had enough food, but sadly her family didn’t.

Overtime she has learned how to cope and accept this part of her childhood, but has yet to warm up to cats. “I think that’s why until this day why I don’t like cats… They scare me,” Simone jokingly shared in an interview with The Today Show in 2016.

A Grand Decision for the Grandparents

After little Simone went back into foster care, her grandparents, Ron Biles and Nellie Cayetano Biles, wanted to do whatever they could to help their grandchildren out. But since her grandparents were already raising two teenage boys, it was going to be a little tricky to care for another four children on top of that. Because of this, her grandparents were left with a very heavy decision to make.

The two were debating if it was best to just take in the youngest of them all, Adria, into their care, or if they should take Simone, as well.

When a Family is Forced to Split Apart

It’s never easy when a family has to split up and apart, especially a mother and her children. In fact, the whole concept is completely heart-shattering, whether it’s for the best or not. Right?

But the Biles’ children were not at risk only because of their mother’s state – the Biles’ siblings were now at risk from being separated from each other. Thankfully, though, there was a little bit of luck when it came to who was going to adopt the kids.

“Send Them To Me”

Some children who were in foster care end up jumping from home to home. And the older a child gets, typically the harder it is to get adopted. But the Biles’ children had a rare case.

They were all staying with the same foster care family together, and pretty soon would be reunited with their family in a way they never would’ve expected.

“The social worker called and said the kids were in foster care… I said, send them to me,” Ron Biles confessed to Time Magazine.

Separated, But Still in the Family

Biles’ grandfather decided he wanted to keep at least the two youngest daughters, Simone and Adria, together instead of splitting them apart. And thankfully, Ron’s sister, Harriet, adopted the two older siblings, Tevin and Ashley.

So, after three years of an unstable living situation, when Simone was about five years old, her grandparents officially adopted her and Adria. And even though the situation wasn’t ideal as the children were still technically split up, at least they were able to be in the care and love of their own family. How did all of this affect little Simone?

One Tough Cookie

From a very young age, Biles was bounced around from being in the care of her mother, to her grandparents, to foster care. Can you imagine how difficult and confusing that must be for a teeny toddler?

That’s the thing about Biles, though – she’s one tough cookie. While this situation is clearly a hard and stressful situation to be in, her attitude and positivity helped her prevail – no matter how disheartening parts of it were.

With that said, though, there was one very distinct feeling that she does recall from her time in foster care.

“Like Nobody Knew Me or Wanted to Know Me”

While Biles’ has expressed that her experience jumping back and forth from place to place as a child hasn’t really left any negative scars since she was so little, she still remembers what it was all like.

“Although I was young when my foster care ordeal began, I remember how it felt to be passed off and over-looked. Like nobody knew me or wanted to know me. Like my talents didn't count, and my voice didn't matter,” she explained in a 2018 interview with CNN.

Talk about tear-jerking and heart shattering. But Simone Biles is the type of person who both finds and brings light into the darkness. Which is exactly what she did to get through all this potential emotional pain.

Finding the Light

Hindsight is 2020, and we’re sure any family who turned down adopting the adorable Simone Biles might be regretting it now. But Simone Biles never took any of what happened in her childhood too heavy to heart, because above all else, she actually felt quite fortunate.

“I remember a little bit being in foster care. Not anything that traumatized me, because we were very lucky and thankful for our situation that we had,” Biles shared with the American Academy of Achievement. “We had a very nice and loving foster family and we got to stay in one place, really. So we were very blessed.”

There was one thing about her foster family, though, that was a bit peculiar.

Foster Family House Rules

Biles was showing signs of her gymnastics passion ever since she was a toddler – and her brother also seemed to have fun jumping around, too. And by chance, their foster family actually had a trampoline in their backyard – which is perfect for a child who’s interested and is showing talents in gymnastics, right?

But while you might think Simone started off practicing and learning some of her gymnastics gems then, her foster family actually had a very strict rule to follow in the house when it came to the trampoline.

What was it exactly? That the kids weren’t allowed to play on it.

Flipping Off of Furniture

Can you imagine what it’s like for a kid to see a trampoline in their backyard and not be allowed to go near it? Especially a little kid like Simone, who had aerobic abilities engraved deep within her.

However, the rule wasn’t for a bad reason – they just weren’t allowed to jump on it due to insurance issues. So instead, Simone and her brother found other ways to entertain themselves, whether it was flipping over objects or jumping off of furniture.

“I remember my brother would flip off the swing and try to show me and then I would try to copy him,” Biles told NBC’s Boston Sports.

Flipping Over Literally Anything

The dynamic duo would jump and flip off of anything and everything that they could, but it wouldn’t be until Simone’s encounter with a trampoline a few years later that her real potential would be unleashed.

This habit of flipping off and over anything continued on to when she was adopted by her grandparents, who she calls “Mom” and “Dad”. And we mean literally anything she could get her hands on and feet off of.

Image by Ulrik Pedersen/CSM/Shutterstock

“I started flipping off mailboxes once I moved to Houston, and my mom and dad would be so mad at me, but I did it anyways,” Biles admitted to NBC’s Boston Sports.

“To Me It’s Just Normal”

Although it was a bit of a bumpy couple of years, Biles’ transition from her mother’s care to foster care to living with her grandparents didn’t seem to leave her shellshocked at all.

In fact, the sweet, innocent little girl didn’t seem to think anything was out of the norm, anyway. “When I was younger, I thought every kid was adopted… I didn’t understand why people made it such a big deal. To me it’s just normal,” Simone revealed to Time Magazine.

Biles truly believes that everything happens for a reason, and perhaps her reason for this turn of events in her childhood was just the right push she needed to find her passion.

Simone at Six Years Old

When Simone was about six years old, her parents (grandparents), signed her up for a daycare camp that was filled with all sorts of fun activities throughout the day. Of course, Simone’s favorite part of the camp was when they would get to go to the gymnastics studio, Bannon’s Gymnastix, and play on the trampolines and mats. The gym itself was split into two separate section – the front area for recreational use and the back area for professional and competitive usage.

One day while jumping on the trampoline for fun, she spotted something that looked magical.

Mimicking Movements

The energetic, spunky child started jumping off of sofas and walls when she was a toddler, and started making her way to the trampoline and mat when she was at camp. But it wouldn’t be until she spotted a team of girls training in the back of the gym studio that something truly magical would happen.

Image via Ulrik Pedersen/CSM/Shutterstock

“I would see these girls on the tramps and on the beams, and all that tumbling and flipping, and I was like, ‘I think I can do that,’” Biles explained to the American Academy of Achievement. Getting inspired by the team of girls got her heart racing, and she started mimicking their movements.

Sent Home with a Letter

One of the coaches spotted Simone on the side, attempting and succeeding at doing the tricks she was copying from the team of girls in the back of the studio. The coach then walked over to Simone and addressed her, asking if she’d ever done any of these stunts or gymnastics before.

Asides from the fun she had jumping around the house with her siblings, she had absolutely no experience when it came to the world of gymnastics itself. The next thing she knew, the coach sent her home with a note for her parents.

A Bit of a Blur

Needless to say, the coaches at the gym were thoroughly impressed with how much talent and skill little Simone had shown without any classes or training at all what-so-ever.

They sent her parents a letter, and the next thing Simone knew, she was slowly getting herself involved in the realm she would soon rule over.

Simone mentioned to the American Academy of Achievement that the whole story with the coaches and the letter was a bit of a “blur”. She further explained, “I didn’t think in that moment my life would have changed and I would be who I am today. So, it’s like, you don’t really remember it too much.”

But joining the gym was just the first step towards her success.

A Whole New World of Wonder

After the highly encouraging letter that the coaches sent to Biles’ parents, they agreed to sign her up for classes. Her eyes and soul were open to a whole new world of wonder and joy – falling in love with every aspect of the sport.

Over the years, Simone’s hunger to be the best that she could be, drove her to excel dramatically in the junior and national levels.

While she had brought lightness into the dark with her attitude, she shined rays of gold on the floor, the balance beams and vault, as well as, the individual all-around events.

Opting Out

Fast forward to 2021, Biles was the shining star of the gymnastics world. All eyes were on Biles and the world was waiting impatiently to see her take on the gold once more. Yet Biles felt as if the world was, in fact, rooting against her.

And so, the young star has made the shocking decision to quit. Viewers were amazed by the announcement.

Though she was still undoubtedly the greatest gymnast in the world, Biles announced that she was stepping away from the tournament for a very different reason—to look after her own mental health.

"I’m Fighting Demons"

In an announcement made by Biles later on, she revealed some heartbreaking truths. “I have to do what’s right for me and focus on my mental health,” Biles said. “I just don’t trust myself as much as I used to … I feel like I’m also not having as much fun, and I know that this Olympic Games, I wanted it to be for myself,” she said, as she began to cry. “Once I step up onto the mat it’s just me and my head, dealing with the demons in my head.”

And while many people around the world had many opinions about her decision, it was her teammates who stood by her side.

Will We See Her in Paris, 2024?

After withdrawing herself from competing, Biles returned to compete on the balance beam and fans were overjoyed when she took home the bronze medal. Everyone was left wondering whether this is the end for her or will we see her trying again for the gold in the upcoming Paris 2024 Olympics.

In an interview with NBC, she declared she's "keeping the door open” for a return to the Olympics. “I think I have to relish and take this Olympics in, and kind of recognize what I’ve done with my career, because after 2016, I didn’t get to do that,” she said."

Emotional Support

It must have been incredibly difficult for Simone Biles to step away from the Olympic tournament, with so much expectation on her shoulders and such excitement for the Games. But the truth is, in putting her mental health as a priority, she not only made an incredibly smart and healthy decision for herself, but also raised awareness across the globe of the importance of this issue.

Fans and celebrities alike took to social media to praise Biles for her decision and honesty—making her even more of a national hero than she already was.

Studying at a Star-Level Studio

It wasn’t until 2012 where Biles saw some of her gymnastics teammates and friends of the “Fab Five” a.k.a. “Fierce Five” (Gabby Douglas, McKayla Maroney, Aly Raisman, Kyla Ross, and Jordyn Wieber) take over at the Olympics, that she considered herself to compete at that level.

“Wow! I took part in a training camp with Kyla and Jordyn! Perhaps I can be there myself one day!” she shared.

And while she was clearly at a star-level studio and trained with Olympic champions by her side, Simone’s secret to her success was actually driven from someone a lot closer to her.

From 0 to 25

Even though Simone had been practicing gymnastics since she was six years old, she didn’t actually believe she could be a part of the Olympics 2012. “I wasn’t ready [for London 2012] and I knew that. Deep in my heart, there was no way I could hang with those girls. There’s no way.”

So how did Simone Biles get from feeling not ready for the Olympics to the holding the most World medals, 25 to be exact, a few years later?

An Intense Period Before the Olympics

At age 14, Simone Biles was already making extreme decisions for her life. But anyone who wants to compete in the Olympics undergoes an intense training period before they make it to the top.

And when we say an intense period, we mean years of devotion and dedication.

But Biles and everyone around her knew that she was born for the mat. And all of her decisions were not made lightly.

The Secret to Simone Biles’s Success

Simone Biles started practicing gymnastics around 2003 with no idea that just a mere decade later she would be competing on an international level. Intense training and passion are both clearly part of why Biles turned out to be so successfully so quickly, but there was something else that helped get the motor running fast and strong.

“I started setting goals in gymnastics, thinking what did I want to do with the sport,” Biles revealed to American Academy of Achievement. “As I progressed and got older, I started setting more goals. And whenever – I was around 14 years old — I made a lot of sacrifices.”

The Sacrifices of a 14-Year-Old

Looking back now, she realized that she wouldn’t have been able to be confident in her decision to devote her life to gymnastics without learning the value of setting a goal and reaching it. But that didn’t mean that it was easy.

“I decided to give up public school, go to homeschool. I gave up all the school dances. I’ve never been to a prom. Never done a lot of those things that maybe most of your kids are doing or want to do,” she shared with the American Academy of Achievement.

A New Bright and Shining Star

Simone Biles didn’t grow up like your average teenager, but she sure did struggle with all sorts of issues that teenagers can relate to. The beginning of her global success adventure embarked when she was the sweet age of 15 years old in 2013.

The baffling Biles took the stage at the World Championships in Antwerp and won herself four medals – one gold for individual all-around, one gold for the floor, one silver in the vault events, and one bronze on the beams – blowing everyone away.

Image by Melissa J Perenson/CSM/Shutterstock

But it was what one of her coaches said that year that really baffled the new bright and shining star.

The 2013 Incident

During one of her competitions in 2013, Biles performed at a meet, but didn’t do as well as expected and she was disappointed with it.

As she walked off the floor, she overheard one of her coaches saying something that made her feel even worse about herself: “You know why she crashed? Because she’s too fat, that’s why. How does she expect to compete like that?”

Body image is a very important issue that many teenagers deal with, and this particular incident was one that truly sent sweet Simone to a low point.

Crying Behind the Curtains

Simone had never felt overweight before, so she was absolutely baffled when she heard those words coming out one of her own coaches’ mouth. Hearing and knowing that he had the audacity to call Simone overweight, and then to blame that reason for her performance literally broke her spirit down. Biles revealed on The Today Show, “I dismissed myself from the floor so nobody could see me and I walked to the back behind the curtains, and I was crying.”

So how exactly did the young teenage girl overcome this hardship?

One Good Pep Talk

There might’ve been a few people who had brought Biles down into the darkness, but none of them were able to keep her there for very long. During this whole ordeal, there was a light waiting for her at the end of the tunnel. And that light was another important staff member on her team, Marta Karolyi, the head team coordinator.

“Marta pulled me back out on the floor and she gave me a little bit of a pep talk,” Simone explained to Today. “Her pep talk kind of gave me a little bit of an up rather than a down… it felt good to hear her, because I was terrified she was going to be upset with me.”

Words of Support and Encouragement

Martha’s words of support are absolute evidence that positivity, encouragement, and constructive criticism trump negativity and discouragement. It wouldn’t be long before Biles would shake off the incident and get back on track.

She quickly hit the gym and trained even harder, just as the head team coordinator suggested. And even though thinking about the body shaming incident still brings up some heavy and sad emotions, Biles keeps on looking at the positives.

“In a way, it actually shaped me for the better, because it just taught me to rise above and to love my body no matter what,” Biles expressed to People.

The Fierce and Funky 4’8” Gymnast

After that incident, there was no stopping Simone. She still had some hardships to deal with over the years, like injuries, recovery, and intense training, but after some deep reflection on her life, she realized she is exactly where she is meant to be at.

Over the next six years the fierce and funky 4’8” gymnast worked hard and kept her eyes on all her goals and prizes. From jumping and spinning on the vaults and beams to dancing around and flipping on the mat, Biles collected and took home multiple champion titles, medals, and world records.

But that’s not all the history books have documented.

The Reason Behind Setting Proper Goals

Remember how earlier we revealed Simon’s secret to success? She clarified to the American Academy of Achievement, the importance of writing down your goals. She declared that if you don’t set proper goals then “you’re not just chasing after one big thing, and you never know if you’re going to get there… there are always little steps that you have to get before you reach the bigger goal.”

Which is exactly why she’s such a fan of writing them down on paper and defining your concrete targets. But was setting all of these goals and making sacrifices truly what she aimed?

The Smiley and Special Simone

It was this very simple practice of writing down her goals, combined with the support she received from her parents and coaches, that got her to be one of the most iconic Olympic champions. She knew in advanced what she was and wasn’t ready for physically, mentally, and emotionally because of her written and defined goals.

But what makes Simone Biles so special is that she’s Simone Biles. She might’ve set goals, but she never knew how much of an impact she would actually make. Even though she feels “normal” and not like anything special, she loves who she is and owns it!

From her intense sportsmanship to her bubbly personality, there’s no question that the smiley Simone Biles has become one of the most inspiring female athletes around.

Living the Dreams of “Mommy and Me”

For Biles, her childhood was quite normal, but her preteens and teenage years were far from it. While she chose to make some compromises and focus her life on being a professional athlete rather than a “normal kid”, what exactly did she get out of it?

She opened up and revealed how no matter how difficult the climb up was, she’s so appreciative of how everything turned out.

“I got to live out a lot of dreams that most kids dream of since they were little kids in Mommy and Me classes. So, I’m very grateful for that. But it also made me set goals at a very young age, which I can’t be more proud of.”

The First Simone Biles

After the Rio 2016 Olympics, Simone stated, “My first Olympics and I’ve walked away with five medals: that’s not disappointing at all. It shows dreams can come true. I’m not the next Usain Bolt or Michael Phelps: I’m the first Simone Biles.”

Along with her raising fame in the game, came a burst of inspiration she shined upon the world of gymnastics. Biles didn’t just receive medals for her outstanding performances, she was landing tricks that have never been properly executed before.

Biles and Biles II

Simone Biles has been known to be the face and athlete who’s changing the realm of gymnastics. She always considered herself to be fearless, and she’s got the proof now to uphold it. After her amazing performances in recent years, she’s coined names to not one but two different signature moves!

The first one is known as the “Biles”, a double-double dismount, which is a double-twisting double backflip in the air. While the more ambitious move, the “Biles II”, is a triple-double, that includes a double backflip with three twists in the air! Beyond impressive!

Sharing Her Own Experience in Order to Inspire

Even though she never would’ve expected to have made such an impact in the sport, she knows that the mat is where she belongs. But her life is focused on something beyond the mat.

Biles talked about her experience as a foster child and that disheartening feeling of “I don’t matter.” But things came around full circle once she grew up, and she now has a list of things that make her feel loved, important, supported, and like she truly does matter.

Courage to Soar

Simone Biles has literally and figuratively been through all sorts of tumbles and hoops on and off the mat. However, she’s been so enlightened with her own personal experience that she just wants to spread the positivity and hope around with others.

As if signature moves and winning her country Olympic medals weren’t enough, the young bubbly adolescent has written and released her own personal autobiography, Courage to Soar.

The amazing athlete felt the need to share her story in order to inspire and encourage people to chase their dreams. And that's only the start of how she’s reaching out and giving back to the community.

Finding What Matters to Biles and Makes Her Matter

Everything came full circle for Biles, and she is beyond appreciative for everything she has in her life, especially her family.

“Finding a family made me feel like I mattered. Finding a passion, something I loved and was really good at, made me feel like I mattered,” Biles affirmed with CNN. “Representing my country and being part of such an amazing Olympic team matters, as does being a role model for those looking to fulfill their own dreams.” And because of this, she’s found a very special social cause to help support.

Mattress Firm Foster Kids Program

Another one of Simone Biles’ focuses now is helping other foster children. Even if she was a young toddler when she was in the care of a foster family, those early roots are still engrained in her for life.

“I came from a foster home and went on to achieve everything I’ve achieved,” Biles explained to People. “But I recall some of the kids coming to the foster home with only the clothes on their back and a backpack.”

Because of this, she chose to partner with a program, Mattress Firm Foster Kids, providing necessities like clothing and school supplies to foster families.

“There Are No Limits”

Simone Biles knows exactly what it’s like to have almost nothing and have your entire family split apart in front of your eyes.

So, she explained, “I’m just hoping it can inspire other foster kids to never give up and to always pursue your dreams. And to play sports and get good sleep!”

And above all else, what she really wants them to understand is that “there are no limits” and that anything is possible.

A Beautiful Message about Beauty Standards

In February 2020, Simone Biles, who previously suffered from criticism regarding her looks, joined forces with SK-II to initiate the #nocompetition campaign — a new global campaign created to inspire women to live by their own definitions of beauty.

On an Instagram post she said, “In gymnastics, as in many other professions, there is a competition that has nothing to do with performance itself. I’m talking about beauty.

I'm tired of everything in life being turned into a competition, so I am standing up for myself and for everyone else that has gone through the same," she wrote. "Today, I say I am done competing VS. beauty standards and the toxic culture of trolling when others feel as though their expectations are not met… because nobody should tell you or I what beauty should or should not look like."

Waiting Game

As we know, 2020 had been a pretty tough year for people all over the world and from all walks of life. And of course, the sporting world was no different—having to totally change their entire industry and career outlooks because of the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Of course, a huge part of this effect was the major news that the 2020 Olympics, originally planned to be held that summer, would have to be postponed until the following year.

It would be a long wait—but the tournament would turn out very different to how everyone expected.

Larry Nassar’s Case

In September 2021, Simone Biles made headlines—but not her gymnastics. Along with fellow gymnasts McKayla Maroney, Aly Raisman, and Maggie Nichols, Biles testified to the Senate Judiciary Committee during a hearing on the FBI’s mishandling of Larry Nassar’s case.

Back in 2016, Nassar was charged with assaulting at least 265 young women and girls, including Olympians and United States women’s national gymnastics team gymnasts. In 2017, he pleaded guilty to abusing 10 of the women who came forward, and he’s serving up to 175 years in prison, according to NBC News.

A Survivor

During her testimony, Biles blamed “the entire system” for allowing Nassar’s crimes. She went on to say that USA Gymnastics and the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee “failed to do their jobs”, as NBC News reported.

“I don't want another young gymnast, or Olympic athlete, or any individual to experience the horror that I and hundreds of others have endured before, during and continuing to this day in the wake of the Larry Nassar abuse,” Biles said while fighting back tears.

Edited by Vignesh Raja