Simone Biles’ birth mother, Shanon Biles, wants to reconnect and reconcile with the Olympic gymnast.
In a lengthy interview with the Daily Mail Tuesday, Shanon explained how her drug and alcohol abuse cost her her children.
Shanon — who still lives in Columbus, Ohio, where Simone, 27, and her sister, Adria Biles, 22, were born — recalled losing two of her three daughters first to foster care and then to adoption by her father, Ronald Biles, 75, and his wife, Nellie Biles.
The couple brought the girls to live with them in Houston when Simone was just 6.
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Shanon’s two eldest children — daughter Ashley Biles-Thomas, 34, and son Tevin Biles-Thomas, 29 — were taken in by Ronald’s sister.
At the time, Shanon was struggling with addiction, which led to significant financial and legal problems.
“It took me six years before I saw my children again. I was respecting my dad to let the kids transition. He felt that was the best thing for them,” the 52-year-old told the outlet.
“It was hard to give up my kids, but I had to do what I had to do. I wasn’t able to care for them. I was still using, and he didn’t want me coming in and out of their lives when I wasn’t right.”
However, since 2022, Shanon has managed to stay out of trouble and now works as a cashier at discount grocery store Save-A-Lot.
“I am a recovering addict and will always be an addict. But there’s a way [to recovery],” said Shanon, who is currently clean and sober. “You have to learn to stay away from people, places and things. Change your routine and live your life. Live your best life.”
Shanon insisted that she is “not the person [she] used to be,” going on to describe herself today as a “loving person” who would “give you the shirt off [her] back.”
Though she has Simone’s “direct number,” she “won’t use it.”
“I want her to reach out to me. She’s 27 now. She’s married. I would have liked to have been a part of that, but I just have to wait for her,” Shanon told the outlet. “You can’t push anybody. It hasn’t happened yet, but I have patience. I’m waiting on her.”
Over the years, Shanon and Ronald reestablished their relationship. They now speak “all the time.”
“What I hear about Simone I hear through my dad,” she shared, admitting that she gathered with neighbors and friends to watch Simone dominate at the 2024 Paris Olympics, where she became the most decorated gymnast in history.
“I would like to make amends with Simone personally,” Shanon explained, adding that she “would just ask her to forgive me. ‘Can we move forward? Don’t judge me on my past. Let’s move forward. … Let’s sit down.'”
Shanon wants Simone to know that she “love[s] her” and is “very proud of her.”
Simone’s biological father, Kevin Clemons — who lives in Cleveland — has no contact with the athlete, either, as he has struggled with his own addiction issues.
Shanon — who is still in touch with him — said he, too, would love to rebuild a bond with Simone.
Speaking directly to her famous daughter, Shanon added, “I would like to sit down and talk to you and answer any questions you may have. I don’t know what you’ve been told, but I want you to hear the real deal.”
If you or someone you care about is affected by any of the issues raised in this story, call SAMHSA’s National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).
