“I Remember Praying for That Bonding”- Simone Biles’ Mother Was Once Not Sure About Parenthood and Bonding

Published 07/24/2022, 12:40 PM EDT

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24-year-old Simone Biles has created a vast legacy with the level of her performance. And for everything that she is today, she is grateful to her parents, Ronald and Nellie Biles, for their unwavering love and support. However, they are Simone’s biological grandparents.

When Simone was little, she spent part of her childhood in foster care. Because her mother, Shannon Biles, could not care for her and her three other siblings. Shannon had difficulties dealing with alcohol and drugs.

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Simone Biles and her parents

Fans of Olympic gymnast Simone Biles may have seen her parents cheering her on as she rose to fame in the sports world. But many were unaware they were her grandparents, who adopted her when she was six.

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Simone’s mother, Nellie, used to be worried about her. Nellie was worried because what is she was unable to earn her love and trust for Simone. On this, Nellie told Women’s Health, “I remember praying for that bonding. Because telling them that you love them and you care for them; that’s all words. But then you wake up one day, and you realize that you would do anything for these children. And that you would die for these children. And when that feeling comes, that’s when you know you are truly a mother.”

During a USA Today interview, Simone Biles talked openly about her experiences in the foster care system. She described how she used to sneak out of her bedroom at night to check on her brother, who was sleeping in a different room. Because she was afraid, she would wake up the next day to find him transferred to a different foster home.

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When Simone was six years old, her grandparents, Ronald Biles and Nellie Biles adopted her and her sister Adria. Ron recalls saying in one interview that it’s his family now. He had advised Shanon to give her daughter the name Simone if she ever had one.

Parent’s support for Simone

The World Champions Centre in Spring, Texas, is owned by Nellie and Ronald. Simone trains there as well, and the facility’s core value is inclusivity, which welcomes athletes of all colors and socioeconomic backgrounds, which is dear to Simone.

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Watch the story: Bad Boozy Simone Biles Posts Stunning Pictures With Fiance Jonathan Owens 

Simone Biles’ parents, Nellie and Ronald, decided to surprise her daughter with a thoughtful deed when she was training for the much-awaited 2021 Tokyo Olympics. On June 30, Biles shared a photo of herself and her parents on Instagram. The image shows the parents of Simone Biles wearing matching T-shirts with the words “Because I Can” from their daughter emblazoned on the front.

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Written by:

Ishani Yadav

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Ishani Yadav is a US Sports author for EssentiallySports. She is currently pursuing her Bachelor's degree in Journalism from the University of Delhi. Ishani spent her childhood playing baseball and badminton, which led to her passion for sports.
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Edited by:

Deepakshi Chaudhary