Portrait · Ocoudis / CC BY-SA 4.0

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.

Lifestyle index · sourced and contextualised

Trivia & tastes

Courage to Soar, with Michelle Burford

A dated profile detail retained with its editorial evidence.

Recorded with an attributable source

The Hunger Games series

A dated USA Gymnastics profile preference; no exact edition claimed.

Reported by a named source

Cover source

Courage to SoarSimone Biles with Michelle Burford

Biles co-authored Courage to Soar with Michelle Burford; the linked item is the exact illustrated Zondervan hardcover edition, ISBN 9780310759669.

Named item linked to an attributable source

Not Like Us by Kendrick Lamar

A dated profile detail retained with its editorial evidence.

Recorded with an attributable source

Pizza, salmon, sushi, pasta, vegetables and homemade s'mores cookies

Dated 2020 preferences, not a fixed meal plan.

Recorded with an attributable source

Yoga and Pilates while taking a break from gymnastics

A May 2026 snapshot, not confirmation of retirement or a comeback.

Recorded with an attributable source

Intuitive eating without tracking

Her directly described 2020 approach, not health advice.

Recorded with an attributable source

Wash after practice, moisturize before makeup, occasional SK-II mask

Stated within a disclosed SK-II campaign interview.

Recorded with an attributable source

CHANEL CHANCE Eau de Parfum and Phlur Heavy Cream Body & Hair Mist

Biles called CHANCE heavenly and said she restocked it immediately; she called Heavy Cream her favorite at the time. These are dated product reactions, not a permanent signature-scent claim.

Recorded with an attributable source

CHANEL CHANCE EAU FRAÎCHE Eau de Parfum Spray

In her own what-is-in-my-bag video, Biles showed a small vial received from her mother. Reporting and CHANEL's catalogue identify the exact 1.2 fl oz Eau de Parfum, reference 136440; it is not presented as a signature scent.

Recorded with an attributable source

Cover source

CHANCE Eau de Parfum SprayCHANEL

In a June 2025 direct beauty Q&A, Biles said CHANEL CHANCE Eau de Parfum smelled heavenly and that she restocked it immediately.

Named item linked to an attributable source

View image source

Cover source

Heavy Cream Body & Hair MistPhlur

In the same June 2025 Q&A, Biles called Phlur Heavy Cream Body Mist her favorite at that time.

Named item linked to an attributable source

View image source

Cover source

CHANCE EAU FRAÎCHE Eau de Parfum SprayCHANEL

Biles showed the small CHANEL CHANCE EAU FRAÎCHE vial she carried while travelling in July 2026 and said it was a gift from her mother; the mapped item is the exact 1.2 fl oz Eau de Parfum, reference 136440.

Named item linked to an attributable source

View image source

Lilo and Rambo

Biles described Lilo as an emotional-support dog and both as major sources of joy.

Recorded with an attributable source

Trivia & tastes

Books

Music

Food

Training

Diet

Skincare

Fragrances

Pets