Simone Biles

Simone Biles is an American gymnast widely considered the greatest of all time. With 11 Olympic medals (7 gold, 2 silver, 2 bronze) and 30 World Championship medals (23 gold), she holds the record for the most World medals by any gymnast. Her signature moves, including the Yurchenko double pike vault, have redefined the sport. Off the mat, she is a mental health advocate, a Presidential Medal of Freedom recipient, and a survivor who has inspired millions.[edit]

Simone Biles was born in Columbus, Ohio, and spent her early years in foster care before being adopted by her grandparents, Ronald and Nellie Biles, at age six. They moved to Spring, Texas, where Simone's gymnastics journey began during a daycare field trip to Bannon's Gymnastix. She imitated the gymnasts she saw and was invited to join classes. Her natural talent was quickly spotted by coach Aimee Boorman.

By age eight, Biles was training 30 hours a week while attending The Redd School. She was homeschooled after eighth grade to accommodate her rigorous schedule. In 2012, she won vault gold at the Junior Visa Championships. The next year, at 16, she made her senior international debut at the World Championships in Antwerp, winning gold in the all-around and floor exercise, becoming the first Black gymnast to claim the world all-around title.[edit]

Biles dominated the 2014 and 2015 World Championships, winning four golds each year. At the 2016 Rio Olympics, she captured four gold medals (team, all-around, vault, floor) and a bronze on beam, the first U.S. female gymnast to win four golds at a single Games since 1984. After a year off in 2017, she returned to win four golds at the 2018 Worlds in Doha. In 2019, she won five golds in Stuttgart, surpassing all previous World medal records.

At the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, Biles withdrew from multiple events citing the twisties and mental health concerns, then returned to win bronze on beam. She received the Presidential Medal of Freedom that year. In 2023, she made a triumphant return at the U.S. Classic and won four golds at the Antwerp Worlds. At the 2024 Paris Olympics, she added three golds (team, all-around, vault) and a floor silver, becoming the most decorated U.S. Olympic gymnast.[edit]

Simone Biles is celebrated as the GOAT of gymnastics, known for unmatched difficulty and flawless execution. Her powerful tumbling and pioneering skills, like the Yurchenko double pike, have set a new standard. The media portrays her as a trailblazer and mental health advocate, especially after her Tokyo withdrawal. Her fandom, sometimes called the Biles Brigade, fiercely supports her. On social media, she is authentic and humorous, sharing training clips, advocacy, and personal moments. She has inspired a generation of Black gymnasts and normalized conversations about athlete mental health.[edit]

Simone Biles commands a vast, organic following that spans the globe without a formalized collective name. Her supporters, often referred to in media as the Biles Brigade, organize their enthusiasm through social media rather than official clubs or structured campaigns. This digital legion rallies around her advocacy and training updates, though recent years have seen them shift focus from pure athletic celebration to intense concern during her health scares in mid-2026. When she visited her childhood gym in August 2026 to hint at a potential comeback for the Los Angeles Games, the reaction was immediate and widespread, proving the depth of public investment in her well-being and legacy. Her influence extends beyond the podium, where she serves as a cultural icon whose personal resilience has become a central narrative for millions.

In terms of global stature, iFANN currently places Simone Biles as the 6th most famous person in Olympic Sports. This standing is documented in the iFANN Global Fame Rankings, which track prominence across international media coverage, search activity, and consumption signals worldwide. The ranking reflects her status as the most decorated gymnast in history, a position she has held steadily since the previous assessment cycle. While specific fan rituals remain informal, the sheer volume of engagement on platforms like Instagram and X underscores her unique position as an athlete who transcends the sport itself.[edit]

Simone Biles holds four signature skills named in the Code of Points: the Biles (floor double layout with half twist), Biles II (floor triple-twisting double tuck), a vault double-twisting Yurchenko, and a beam double-double dismount. She owns a French bulldog named Lilo and has a wax figure at Madame Tussauds New York. A playable character in Fortnite, she also testified before the Senate in 2021 regarding her experience as a survivor of Larry Nassar's abuse. In 2016, her medical records were leaked by Russian hackers, leading to her public diagnosis of ADHD. Her memoir Courage to Soar remains a significant publication in her bibliography.

Her legend includes the defining moment at the 2016 Rio Olympics when she withdrew from team finals to prioritize her mental health, citing the twisties. This act redefined sports psychology and shifted the narrative toward athlete well-being. More recently, a dramatic health scare in June 2026, where reports stated she was almost dying, added a layer of intense folklore to her story. Following medical treatment and a procedure in July 2026, her return to public life became a major news event. Fans continue to retell these stories of survival and resilience as they await any potential return to competition for the 2028 Games.[edit]

Simone was raised by her maternal grandparents, Ronald and Nellie Biles, who adopted her and younger sister Adria in 2003. Her biological mother Shannon struggled with substance abuse; her father Kelvin Clemons left early. She has five siblings: Adria (also a gymnast), Ashley, Tevin, Ron Jr., and Adam. In 2023, she married NFL safety Jonathan Owens. The couple lives in Houston, Texas, with their rescue dog Lilo.[edit]

Simone Biles has worked closely with coaches Aimee Boorman (2003-2018) and Cécile and Laurent Landi (2018-present). Her 2016 Olympic teammates include Aly Raisman, Gabby Douglas, Laurie Hernandez, and Madison Kocian. In 2024, she competed alongside Jordan Chiles, Suni Lee, Jade Carey, and Hezly Rivera. She is married to NFL player Jonathan Owens. She has also been a vocal advocate alongside fellow survivors of Larry Nassar's abuse.[edit]

Simone Biles dated fellow gymnast Stacey Ervin Jr. from 2015 to 2018; they met through gymnastics and grew apart. In 2020, she met NFL safety Jonathan Owens on the dating app Raya during the pandemic. They got engaged in February 2022 and married in a courthouse ceremony in Houston on April 22, 2023, followed by a destination wedding in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, on May 6, 2023. Owens has played for the Houston Texans, Green Bay Packers, and Chicago Bears. As of 2026, the couple remains married with no children.[edit]

As of 2026, iFANN currently estimates Simone Biles' net worth at $28 million. Her financial portfolio draws from diverse streams including Olympic medal bonuses totaling over $500,000 and a major endorsement deal with Athleta reportedly worth $5 million per year. Additional partnerships include collaborations with Uber Eats, Visa, Kellogg's, Core Power, GK Elite, and Mattress Firm. Between 2021 and 2024, she earned an estimated $6-8 million annually from endorsements alone. Her memoir Courage to Soar secured a $1.5 million advance, and she commands fees between $100,000 and $200,000 for speaking engagements. In 2023, she and her husband acquired a home in Houston valued at $1.5 million. Biles also operates a production company launched in 2021.[edit]

Simone Biles has won 7 Olympic gold medals, 23 World Championship gold medals, and multiple ESPY and Laureus awards. She is a four-time AP Female Athlete of the Year (2016, 2019, 2023, 2024) and has received the Presidential Medal of Freedom and the Arthur Ashe Courage Award.[edit]