Simone Biles’ biological mother, Shannon Biles, recently hosted a watch party in her backyard in Ohio to cheer on her daughter during the Paris Olympics. Despite their estranged relationship, Shannon expressed her pride and support for Simone, who walked away from the competition with three gold medals and one silver, further cementing her status as the most decorated U.S. gymnast in history.
In an exclusive interview with DailyMail.com, Shannon opened up about the challenges of watching her daughter’s success from afar. She admitted to feeling a deep sense of loss as she celebrated in Columbus, far from Simone, her son-in-law Jonathan Owens, and Simone’s adoptive parents, Ronald and Nellie Biles.
Shannon’s estrangement from Simone began years ago when Ronald, Simone’s biological grandfather, and his wife Nellie adopted Simone and her younger sister Adria. This decision was rooted in Shannon’s struggles with addiction, which led to her losing custody of her children. Reflecting on those difficult years, Shannon admitted, “It was hard to give up my kids, but I had to do what I had to do. I wasn’t able to care for them. I was still using, and my father didn’t want me coming in and out of their lives when I wasn’t right.”
While Simone and Adria went to live with their grandparents, Shannon’s two elder children, Tevin and Ashley, were taken in by her aunt in Cleveland. Now sober, Shannon is gradually being welcomed back into the family, but her relationship with Simone remains strained. She has expressed a desire to reconcile with her daughter, hoping for a chance to make amends. “I would like to make amends with Simone personally,” Shannon said. “I would just ask her to forgive me. Can we move forward? Don’t judge me on my past. Let’s move forward.”
However, Simone, who has been open about her struggles with anxiety and mental health, appears to be holding onto the painful memories of her early childhood. In her Facebook Watch series “Simone vs Herself,” the gymnast did not shy away from discussing the hardships she faced before being adopted by her grandparents. Simone recalled,
“Growing up, me and my siblings were so focused on food because we didn’t have a lot of food. I remember there was this cat around the house, and I’d be so hungry. They would feed this cat, and I’m like, ‘Where the heck is my food?’”
Simone’s memories also include feeling neglected by her mother, who seemed to prioritize the well-being of the cat over her own children. “She always fed it, but she never fed us,” Simone shared. The situation became so dire that Simone and her siblings ended up in foster care at the age of three until Ronald and Nellie adopted her and Adria when Simone was just six years old. This decision paved the way for Simone’s incredible gymnastics career, but the scars of neglect continue to affect her.
Ronald Biles has been candid about the challenges Shannon faced. In a 2016 interview with NBC, he explained, “Her mother had many problems – whether with drugs or alcohol. The kids were eventually taken away from her. We took them in as family because they were family.” Ronald’s decision to cut off communication between Shannon and her daughters was motivated by a desire to protect the new life he and Nellie had created for them.
Shannon, now 52, reflects on her past with a mix of regret and understanding. She acknowledges that her father’s tough love was necessary, even if it was difficult for her to accept at the time. “I was hard-headed. I didn’t care, screaming, ‘I want to see my kids, why you doing this to me?’ I didn’t understand at the time, but years later, I understood why. I had to deal with me first,” Shannon admitted.
Despite her ongoing estrangement from Simone, Shannon remains hopeful that they will eventually reconcile.
“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,”
she said.Shannon also expressed a desire for Simone to reconnect with her biological father, Kevin Clemons. She revealed that Kevin regularly asks about Simone and hopes to establish a relationship with her. “We both want to see her. I talk to him all the time. He says, ‘If you talk to Simone, give her my number. I’d love to talk to her,'” Shannon shared.
However, Shannon recognizes that the decision to reconnect ultimately lies with Simone. “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. You can’t push anybody,” she acknowledged.
As Shannon continues to navigate the complexities of her relationship with Simone, she remains committed to being patient and hopeful that one day they will be able to sit down and address the past.
