Simone Biles’ Estranged Birth Mom Begs Olympic Icon to Reconnect

Simone Biles’ birth mother, Shanon, has made a heartfelt plea for forgiveness from the celebrated American gymnast following Biles’ recent triumphs at the Paris Games. Biles secured team, all-around, and vault titles, along with a silver in the floor routine, bringing her Olympic medal tally to 11. This ties her with Czechoslovakia’s Vera Caslavska as the second-most decorated female gymnast in Olympic history.

In an emotional interview with the Daily Mail, Shanon conveyed her deep desire for reconciliation, expressing hope that Biles will reach out and give her a chance to make amends. The 52-year-old has struggled with drug addiction in the past, which forced her to relinquish care of Biles and her siblings.

Shanon opened up about her challenges, admitting, “It was hard to give up my kids, but I had to do what I had to do,” acknowledging her inability to care for them due to her addiction. “I wasn’t able to care for them. I was still using and [my father] didn’t want me coming in and out of their lives when I wasn’t right. I was hard-headed.”

Reflecting on her past actions, she shared her initial frustration and lack of understanding, stating, “I didn’t care, screaming, ‘I want to see my kids, why you doing this to me?’ I didn’t understand at the time but years later, I understood why. I had to deal with me first.”

As Shanon battled her personal demons, it was her father Ronald and his wife Nellie who stepped in to raise her young daughters in Texas. Meanwhile, Shanon’s older children, Tevin and Ashley, were looked after by Ronald’s sister Harriet in Cleveland, according to reports from the Mirror.

Shanon maintains contact with Biles’ biological father, Kevin Clemons from Cleveland, who also has a strained relationship with his daughter due to past addiction issues. Shanon expressed, “We both want to see her.”

“I talk to him all the time. He says, ‘If you talk to Simone, give her my number. I’d love to talk to her.’ But I can’t even talk to her. I have to go through my dad,” Shanon shared.

Adding to her narrative, Shanon said, “I want to let her know I love her and I’m very proud of her. But I’m still waiting.”

Despite the complicated dynamic with Biles, Shanon wasn’t invited to her recent wedding with Jonathan Owens, though she still communicates with Biles’ sister Adria. To celebrate Biles’ impressive achievements at the Paris Olympics, Shanon organized a backyard party at her home in Columbus, Ohio.

Although she has Biles’ phone number, Shanon hasn’t reached out directly because she feels that the gymnast should initiate the first contact.

Source: Daily Mail, the Mirror