Simone Biles’ Birth Mom Explains Why She Abandoned Her Daughter

Shanon Biles’ life has been a complex journey of pain intermingled with hope, spanning thousands of miles and marked by the emotional distance that has grown between her and her daughter, Simone Biles.

Shanon, now 52 and residing in Columbus, Ohio, reflects on her turbulent past and her deep desire to reconnect with Simone. Given her daughter’s recent triumphant return to the global athletics stage at the Paris Olympics, Shanon watches from a distance, brimming with pride yet shadowed by a bittersweet longing.

“It was incredibly difficult to give up my kids, but I had no other choice,” Shanon shared candidly in an interview with Daily Mail. “I wasn’t in a position to care for them. I was still battling addiction, and my father didn’t want me coming in and out of their lives when I wasn’t well.”

Years ago, Shanon’s drug addiction struggles led to the heart-wrenching decision to place her children in foster care. Eventually, her father Ronald and his wife Nellie adopted Simone and her younger sister, Adria, bringing them to live in Texas. Shanon’s two older children, Tevin and Ashley, were taken in by Ronald’s sister.

The separation from her children, especially Simone, has been a deeply sorrowful chapter in Shanon’s life. Despite her continuous efforts to rebuild her life and maintain sobriety, she has missed many of Simone’s milestones, including her wedding to Jonathan Owens last year.

“I would like to make amends with Simone personally. I’m just waiting for her and Adria. I would ask for forgiveness and hope we can move forward. I’m ready whenever she is,” Shanon expressed.

As Simone triumphed at the Paris Olympics, winning multiple medals, Shanon celebrated in her own way. She hosted a gathering in the backyard of her modest home, where friends and neighbors cheered on Team USA with her. Still, the event was tinged with the sadness of not being there to share her daughter’s success in person.

“I am so proud of her. But it’s difficult not to be part of these moments in her life. I’ve had to learn patience and accept the consequences of my past choices,” Shanon acknowledged.

Shanon’s path has not been an easy one. In the aftermath of losing her children, she faced addiction, financial challenges, and legal troubles, including filing for bankruptcy in 2018. She has lived in the same neighborhood for years, working hard to stay on a positive trajectory. Despite the difficulties, she has remained clean and sober and now works as a cashier.

Today, Shanon focuses on recovery and striving for a better life. Despite her progress, the emotional distance between her and Simone persists. Their relationship is characterized more by absence than conflict, with Shanon relying on her father Ronald for updates about Simone’s life.

As Ronald celebrated his birthday in Paris alongside Simone, Adria, and Nellie, Shanon reflected on her dreams for the future. She longs for the day when she can reconnect with her daughter and begin the healing process. “I just want to move forward. I hope that one day, Simone will reach out, and we can start to rebuild our relationship,” she said.