Simone Biles was noticeably absent from Team USA’s boat entrance on the Seine at the 2024 Olympic Games’ opening ceremony — but the pro athlete had a good reason.
“The first [gymnastics] competition is Sunday, which is women’s qualifier and, of course, she needs to rest up before that competition,” her mother, Nellie Biles, told the “Today” show’s Hoda Kotb on Friday.
Simone’s highly anticipated return to the Olympics comes three years after she shockingly withdrew from the Games in Japan to focus on her mental health.
However, Nellie reassured Kotb, 59, that her daughter is “feeling really good” this time around.
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“I spoke to her this morning and she’s doing great,” the matriarch said. “She’s just in a really good place.”
Simone, 27, qualified to be part of the US women’s gymnastics team in June alongside teammates Suni Lee, Jade Carey, Jordan Chiles and Hezly Rivera.
The four-time gold medalist told media outlets at a press conference that same month, “This is definitely our redemption tour. I feel like we all have more to give, and our Tokyo performances weren’t the best.”
She also recognized at the time, though, “We weren’t under the best circumstances either.”
Aside from having the support of her mother and the rest of her relatives, Simone’s husband, Jonathan Owens, also proudly cheered her on when she was competing in the Olympic trials.
The public display of affection comes months after the Chicago Bears player, 29, faced backlash for saying in a viral interview that he thought he was more of a catch than the Olympic champion.
In December 2023, Owens claimed on the “Pivot” podcast that he didn’t know who Simone was during the 2020 Olympics, before they matched on the exclusive dating app Raya.
“I’m like, ‘Lemme see who this is.’ I never really paid attention to gymnastics, so it piqued my curiosity,” he claimed in the episode, later sharing, “I always say that the men are the catch” in the relationship.
Simone fiercely defended Owens despite the criticism but admitted the viral interview took a toll on her.
“I thought it was hilarious at first and then it hurt my feelings,” she said on the “Call Her Daddy” podcast in April.
“One night I broke down and I’m like, ‘Why are you guys talking about my husband like this? You don’t know him.
“You don’t know who he is and if anybody’s met him, you know he’s the sweetest guy, will do anything for anybody.’”
