Why couldn’t Simone Biles parents take care of her?
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Simone Biles and her parents
Simone Biles is considered one of the greatest gymnasts of all time, and with a total of 32 Olympics and World Championships medals is the most decorated American gymnast of all time. Biles is only four medals away from overtaking Vitaly Scherbo to become the world’s most decorated gymnast.
In her maiden Olympic appearance, Simone Biles asserted her dominance, winning 5 medals, four of which were gold, and one bronze. With 19 gold medals in World Championships to her name, the 24-year-old is expected to finish as the best the game has ever seen. And in her glorious journey to the pinnacle, Biles has had unwavering support from her parents, Ron and Nellie Biles.
But the decorated gymnast’s childhood was not the best. From being separated from her biological mother to going from foster home to home before being adopted by her parents, Simone Biles had her share of hardships in there early days of her life. Let’s take a look at Simone’s adoption by her parents, their role in her career, and Simone’s relationship with her biological mom.
Who are Simone Biles parents?
Simone Biles parents, Ronald and Nellie Biles are his maternal grandparents. Ronald and his second wife Nellie adopted Simone and her sister Adria in 2003. Simone considers her grandparents to be her father and mother. The 24 year old is very grateful to her parents for their unconditional support over the years.
“I never had mom to run to. I do remember always being hungry and afraid. At 3 years old, I was placed in foster care… Whenever we had visits with my grandpa, I was so excited. That was the person I always wanted to see walk into the foster home. My parents saved me… There’s nothing I could say to them to thank them enough,” she said during an episode of Dancing With the Stars.
Simone’s grandfather was the one that picked out her name when her mother was pregnant. Ronald was pained as her granddaughters went from foster home to home and decided to adopt them. According to NBC News, Ron said: “The fact that part of my family, my blood, was living with strangers, that troubled me, the fact that my daughter was having that many problems.”
Why couldn’t Simone Biles’ biological parents take care of her?
Simone Biles was born to Shannon Biles and Kelvin Clemons on 14th March 1997 in Columbus, Ohio. Although both Shanon and Kelvin are no more in the gymnast’s life, her mother remains in contact with her. While not much is known about her father, Kelvin, we do know that he abandoned Simone and her siblings with their mother when they were still very young.
Shanon struggled with alcohol and drug abuse, and the authorities found her unfit to raise Simone and her siblings Tevin, Ashley, and Adria. Fortunately, she has been sober since 2007 and worked as a home-help aid. Although she remains in touch with Simone Biles, Shanon admits that their conversations are usually brief and cold.
Also Read | 10 gymnastics myths that were debunked by Simone Biles
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