A talented and hardworking athlete, Simone Biles has faced many challenges in her life. And through it all, her two pillars of support, her parents, Nellie and Ronald Biles, have been by her side. Biologically, Ronald is Biles’ grandfather, who adopted her in 2003 when she was merely six years old, along with her younger sister Adria.

At the time, her biological mother could not care for Simone. Her troubles with addiction were an enormous obstacle.

Shannon Biles, the biological mother of Simone Biles

Shannon Biles had four kids; a boy and three girls that spent a few of their early years in foster care. Shannon’s struggles with drug and alcohol addictions rendered her unfit to take care of them. In an interview with Daily Mail Online, Shannon shed some light on what the experience of giving up her children to her father was like.

“When we signed the [adoption] papers, it was like my dad flipped a switch on me – no communication, don’t call, and don’t visit. That’s how it was at the beginning,” Shannon said. 

“I was still using and he didn’t want me coming in and out of their lives when I wasn’t right.” 

She admitted that she didn’t take it very well when she was forbidden from contacting Simone and her sister. “I was hard-headed, I didn’t care, screaming, ‘I want to see my kids, why you doing this to me?'”

Unfortunately, Simone’s biological father wasn’t in any better place, struggling with his own addictions. Ronald’s sister took Shannon’s older two kids in. It took six years before Shannon reconnected with Simone.

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Simone’s adoptive parents

Simone has expressed on many occasions that her adoptive parents saved her. She started calling them ‘mom’ and ‘dad’ soon after adoption, and they have been role models for her throughout her life.

Biles first opened up about her adoption in 2017, when she was a part of Dancing With The Stars. She shared, “They’ve set huge examples of how to treat other people, and they’ve been there to support me since day one. There’s nothing I could say to them to thank them enough.”

Simone often shares pictures of her parents on social media and expresses her love and gratitude for them. Unfortunately, the couple could not accompany her to Tokyo because of COVID restrictions. However, they have been at the center of her support system through her highs and lows.

Here’s Everything You Need to Know About Simone Biles’ Heartwarming Adoption Story