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Simone Biles

Artistic gymnast

Born 1997

Simone Biles is an American artistic gymnast whose power, difficulty and longevity have redrawn the limits of women's gymnastics. Born in Columbus, Ohio, she spent early childhood in foster care before her maternal grandfather Ron Biles and his wife Nellie adopted Simone and her younger sister Adria and raised them near Houston. A daycare field trip introduced her to gymnastics at six; with coach Aimee Boorman she rose from junior elite to the 2013 world all-around title, then repeated in 2014 and 2015 before winning four gold medals and a bronze at the Rio 2016 Olympics. After a post-Rio break, she returned under Cécile and Laurent Landi to win the 2018 and 2019 world all-around titles and surpass the all-time World Championship medal record. At the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, a dangerous loss of air awareness known as the twisties led her to withdraw from most finals, foregrounding athlete safety and mental health; she later returned for balance-beam bronze. Biles testified before the U.S. Senate about institutional failures in the Larry Nassar abuse investigation and received the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2022. She married NFL safety Jonathan Owens in 2023, returned to win a sixth world all-around title that year, and in Paris in 2024 won Olympic gold in the team, all-around and vault events plus floor silver. Her 11 Olympic medals and 30 world medals make her the most decorated gymnast in history, while five elements in the Code of Points bear her name. She is also the author of Courage to Soar, the subject of Simone Biles Rising, creator of the Gold Over America Tour and a creative partner at Religion of Sports. In 2026 she remained on a deliberate break from gymnastics, described an LA 2028 return as a 50-50 decision, continued therapy and accepted a global ambassador role for Panam Sports and the Lima 2027 Pan American Games.

Verified identityCore facts checked against named sources.

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Connected people

ConnectionJonathan OwensHusband; NFL safety and a central part of her current support system.

ConnectionRon and Nellie BilesParents who adopted and raised Simone and Adria and later founded World Champions Centre.

ConnectionAdria BilesYounger sister, adopted and raised alongside Simone.

Provenance before publication

Source Ledger

Identity, career, awards, current coverage and image rights are listed here so the profile can be checked without guesswork.

Sports Illustrated

Simone Biles is SI's 2024 Sportsperson of the Year

Long-form Paris comeback and current-life profile.

Date not supplied PrimaryOriginal

USA Gymnastics

Simone Biles athlete profile

Official biography, results, medal record and interests.

Date not supplied OfficialOriginal

Panam Sports

Simone Biles's week in Peru as Panam Sports ambassador

Official ambassador appointment.

Aug 11, 2026 OfficialOriginal

CNN

Simone Biles discusses LA 2028 and mental health

Current first-person status and relationship context.

Apr 29, 2026 PrimaryOriginal

ESPN Press Room

The 2025 ESPYS winners

Official 2025 ESPY wins.

Jul 16, 2025 OfficialOriginal

TIME

Simone Biles has forever changed gymnastics

Post-Paris interview and impact award.

May 1, 2025 PrimaryOriginal

Laureus

Simone Biles — 2025 World Sportswoman of the Year

Official Sportswoman award.

Apr 21, 2025 OfficialOriginal

Netflix

Simone Biles Rising

Official documentary series record.

Oct 25, 2024 OfficialOriginal

International Gymnastics Federation

The Biles 2 becomes her fifth named element

Official eponymous-skill record.

Nov 16, 2023 OfficialOriginal

GovInfo / The White House

Presidential Medal of Freedom ceremony

Official civilian-honour record.

Jul 7, 2022 OfficialOriginal

Image rights ledger

Simone Biles at the 2024 U.S. Gymnastics Championships

Media: Ocoudis

Own-work/VRT-verified source; editorial use only.

Source file CC BY-SA 4.0

Simone Biles competing at Paris 2024

Media: Ocoudis

Own-work CC0 source; editorial use only.

Source file CC0 1.0