Is Simone Biles Adopted?: Was She in Foster Care?

by

Is Simone Biles Adopted?: Was She in Foster Care?

As a dedicated gamer and follower of inspiring stories, I’ve been deeply moved by Simone Biles‘ journey, which was recently highlighted in the Netflix docuseries “Simone Biles Rising.” The episode shed new light on her past experiences in foster care and her eventual adoption.

Interested fans are eager to gain further insights into the background of gymnastics sensation, Simone Biles. The recent release of the Netflix docuseries, “Simone Biles Rising,” on July 17, 2024, has fueled their curiosity, as it sheds light on her time spent in foster care and her eventual adoption. Previously, Biles had shared her story publicly; however, this production offers a unique perspective from her adoptive mother, Nellie Biles, who is married to Simone’s adopted father and grandfather, Ronald Biles. Here’s what we currently understand regarding Simone Biles’ adoption, her biological parents, and her foster care journey.

When was Simone Biles adopted?

In 2003, when Simone Biles was just six years old, her grandfather, Ronald Biles, and his spouse, Nellie Biles, legally welcomed her into their family. They similarly brought up Simone’s younger sister, Adria Biles, as part of their own household.

At the age of three, Simone and her siblings were placed in foster care due to their mother Shanon Biles’ battles with drug and alcohol addiction. According to Life & Style magazine, Simone’s father Kelvin Clemons was not present in her life during that time. In her book “Simone Biles Rising,” Simone shares her experiences from this period, expressing her uncertainty about the future and whether there would be enough food to eat.

How long was Simone Biles in foster care?

In the documentary, Nellie shared that the Foster care placement of Simone and her siblings lasted between six and nine months. During this time, Simone was at one point separated from her siblings. However, after two years in their home in Spring, Texas, Ron and Nellie adopted Simone and her sister Adria in 2003. Meanwhile, Harriet, Ronald’s sister, took in Simone’s older siblings Ashley and Tevon for adoption. The process of bringing the children into their home and healing their trauma was a challenging task for Ron and Nellie according to Simone.

Nellie adds that growing up in foster care made it challenging for Simone, as the statistics were not in her favor. However, this adversity fueled her determination. As she put it, “I was always the kid who would prove wrong anyone who said I couldn’t do something.” Nellie goes on to explain that gymnastics provided Simone with a unique sense of control, allowing her to master and perfect the sport.

In a 2023 conversation with CNN, Biles expresses her advocacy for Friends of the Children, a charitable group that assigns mentors to at-risk youth, including those in foster care.

At the 2024 Olympics in Paris, Simone Biles is set to participate starting from July 28 as indicated in the official itinerary. If everything goes smoothly for her, she will join the Women’s Team Final on July 29 (as per Pacific Time Zone), follow that with the Women’s All-Around on July 31, and engage in several apparatus finals from August 1 to August 5.

Read More

2024-07-19 02:40