The Simone Biles family story is about much more than gymnastics. Simone is an Olympic champion, but behind the medals is a family shaped by hardship, love and second chances.
Her family includes biological relatives, adoptive parents, siblings raised in different households, and her husband, NFL player Jonathan Owens.
After Simone entered foster care as a young child, her grandfather Ronald and his wife Nellie Biles took her in and raised her in Texas. They later built the gym where she trains.
In this guide, you'll learn about Simone Biles' parents, siblings, husband and family background. We'll also show how everyone fits together, so the family tree finally makes sense.
Simone Biles Family at a Glance
| Person | Relationship to Simone |
| Ronald Biles | Adoptive father and biological maternal grandfather |
| Nellie Biles | Adoptive mother and wife of Simone's grandfather |
| Shannon Biles | Biological mother |
| Kelvin Clemons | Biological father |
| Adria Biles | Sister (biological, adopted with Simone) |
| Ashley Biles | Sister (biological, raised by a great-aunt) |
| Tevin Biles | Brother (biological, raised by a great-aunt) |
| Ronald Biles Jr. | Brother in the family (son of Ronald and Nellie, technically her uncle) |
| Adam Biles | Brother in the family (son of Ronald and Nellie, technically her uncle) |
| Jonathan Owens | Husband |
| Ronni Louise Biles | Niece |
Ronald is both Simone's grandfather and her adoptive dad. That is why the word "parents" can mean two different things in her story. In this article, Simone's parents means Ronald and Nellie, the people who raised her.
Who Are Simone Biles' Parents?
Simone Biles' parents are Ronald and Nellie Biles. They raised her, and Simone calls them Mom and Dad. Ronald is also her maternal grandfather, while Nellie is his wife. They already had two sons, Ronald Jr. and Adam, when Simone and Adria joined the household.
Ronald Biles
Ronald Biles, also known as Ron Biles, is Simone's adoptive father and her maternal grandfather. He is a U.S. Air Force veteran, and he and Nellie have been together for decades.
Ronald helped raise Simone in Spring, Texas, and he backed her gymnastics from the start. He is a familiar face at her biggest competitions.
Today, Ronald and Nellie own the World Champions Centre, the gym they built for Simone's training. At her 2023 destination wedding, Ronald walked her down the aisle.
Nellie Biles
Nellie Biles is Ronald's wife and Simone's adoptive mother. She has a nursing-school background and has been by Ronald's side through every stage of raising the family.
Nellie first came into Simone's life as her grandfather's wife. She quickly became a full-time mom. She has cheered Simone on through her career, and on Simone's wedding day, the two shared an emotional moment before the ceremony.
Nellie also owns World Champions Centre with Ronald.
Is Simone Biles Adopted?
Yes, Simone Biles was adopted. She entered foster care as a young child, and in 2003 her grandfather Ronald and his wife Nellie legally adopted her and her younger sister, Adria.
Here is how the family looked before and after.
- Before: Simone and her three biological siblings (Adria, Ashley and Tevin) were in foster care.
- After: Simone and Adria went to live with Ronald and Nellie in Texas. Ashley and Tevin were raised by their great-aunt in Ohio. Ronald and Nellie's sons, Ronald Jr. and Adam, became Simone's brothers in the family.
Simone calls Ronald and Nellie her parents because they raised her from childhood. They gave her a stable home, so Mom and Dad simply fit.
Her biological parents, Shannon Biles and Kelvin Clemons, remain part of her story, but her day-to-day family life has been with the Biles household.
Who Are Simone Biles' Siblings?
Simone Biles' siblings number five the way her family counts them, though not all are siblings by blood. Three are her biological siblings: Adria, Ashley and Tevin.
Two, Ronald Jr. and Adam, are the sons of Ronald and Nellie. Because Ronald is also Simone's grandfather, they are technically her uncles. They grew up alongside her as brothers, so the family counts them as siblings.
- Raised with Simone: Adria, Ronald Jr. and Adam
- Raised by their great-aunt: Ashley and Tevin
Adria Biles
Adria is Simone's younger sister, about two years younger. They were adopted together and grew up under the same roof with Ronald and Nellie.
Adria did gymnastics too, starting at age nine, and later pursued dentistry. She also competed on the first season of Claim to Fame in 2022. Adria was a bridesmaid at Simone's destination wedding and often appears beside her at big events.
Ronald Biles Jr. and Adam Biles
Ronald Jr. is Ronald and Nellie's older son. He and his wife, Samantha, are parents to a daughter, Ronni Louise.
Adam is Ronald and Nellie's younger son. He previously worked as general manager of World Champions Centre, helping run the family gym.
Simone considers both of them her brothers, and both remain closely connected to the Biles family.
Ashley Biles and Tevin Biles
Ashley and Tevin are Simone's biological older sister and brother. After the children entered foster care, their great-aunt took them in, and they grew up in Cleveland, Ohio.
Simone and Adria, meanwhile, grew up near Houston, Texas, with Ronald and Nellie. Growing up in separate homes meant Simone's bond with Ashley and Tevin took a different shape than her bond with Adria. Even so, they are family by birth and part of the Biles story.
Who Is Simone Biles' Husband, Jonathan Owens?
Simone Biles' husband is Jonathan Owens, a professional NFL safety. He has played for several teams, including the Houston Texans, Green Bay Packers and Chicago Bears.
Here is a quick timeline of their story:
- March 2020: Simone and Jonathan start dating after connecting on a dating app.
- February 14, 2022: They get engaged.
- April 22, 2023: They marry in a courthouse ceremony in Houston, Texas.
- May 6, 2023: They hold a destination wedding in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico.
The two ceremonies are easy to mix up. The courthouse wedding made them legally married. Simone explained that they married legally in the U.S. first because the big wedding would be a destination event. The Cabo celebration was the large gathering with family and friends.
Jonathan has been a steady presence in Simone's career. He traveled to Paris to watch her at the 2024 Olympics, and she has cheered him on at his games too.
He has fit naturally into the Biles family. Ronald walked Simone down the aisle in Cabo, Nellie shared the emotional morning with her, and Adria stood beside her as a bridesmaid. Jonathan is now part of Simone's immediate family.
Simone Biles' Extended Family: Her Niece and Family Connections
Ronald Biles Jr. and his wife, Samantha, have a daughter named Ronni Louise Biles. She is Simone's niece, and she has often been seen with the Biles family at gymnastics events.
Ronni's arrival added a new generation to the family. Simone's relatives now include parents, siblings, a husband and a niece who grows up cheering at competitions.
- Relationship: Ronni Louise is the daughter of Simone's brother, Ronald Jr., and his wife, Samantha.
Simone Biles Family Tree
Here is the Simone Biles family tree in simple text form. It separates her adoptive household from her biological family so the relationships are easy to follow.
ADOPTIVE / RAISING FAMILY
Ronald Biles + Nellie Biles
├── Ronald Jr. (their son)
├── Adam (their son)
├── Simone (adopted)
└── Adria (adopted)
BIOLOGICAL FAMILY
Shannon Biles + Kelvin Clemons
├── Simone
├── Adria
├── Ashley (raised by great-aunt)
└── Tevin (raised by great-aunt)
MARRIAGE
Simone Biles + Jonathan Owens
One detail ties it together: Ronald is Shannon's father. That makes him Simone's biological grandfather and her adoptive dad. Simone and Adria appear in both boxes because they have both a biological family and a raising family.
How Simone Biles' Family Supported Her Gymnastics Career
Her family has been part of the journey from the very first lesson.
- Around age 6: Simone visited a gym on a daycare field trip. Her talent stood out, and Ronald and Nellie enrolled her in classes.
- Growing up: Her training hours rose and she switched to homeschooling, with her family supporting the change.
- World Champions Centre: Ronald and Nellie built the gym in Spring, Texas. It started in temporary space in 2014 and opened to the public in 2016. Her success has also boosted her net worth.
- Competitions: Ronald and Nellie have been regular fixtures at her events.
- Hard moments: When Simone stepped back from the team final at the Tokyo Olympics to protect her mental health, Adria publicly defended her.
- 2023: Ronald walked Simone down the aisle, and Nellie shared the wedding morning with her.
- 2024: Ronald and Nellie were in Paris to cheer her on at the Olympics.
Simone's success is built on her own talent and hard work. But the people around her made it possible to keep going. Her parents gave her stability, her siblings gave her joy, and now her husband adds another voice in her corner.
Conclusion
The tricky part of this family tree is also what makes it special: it blends biology, adoption and the homes people grew up in. Once you separate those three things, everything fits.
Ronald is both Simone's grandfather and her dad. Adria is her sister by birth and by adoption. Ronald Jr. and Adam are uncles on paper and brothers in real life.
Through it all, Ronald and Nellie gave Simone a steady home, and Jonathan Owens now stands beside her too.
However complicated the Simone Biles family looks at first, the story underneath is simple: people chose to show up for each other.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where did Simone Biles grow up?
Simone was born in Columbus, Ohio, but she grew up in Spring, Texas, near Houston. That is where Ronald and Nellie raised her. People often mention Ohio because of her birthplace, but Texas is the place she calls home.
How many siblings does Simone Biles have?
Simone has five siblings in total: three biological siblings and two through Ronald and Nellie's sons. They grew up in two different households, which is why her family can look confusing from the outside.
Are Simone Biles and Adria Biles biological sisters?
Yes. Simone and Adria share the same biological parents, Shannon Biles and Kelvin Clemons. They were also adopted together by Ronald and Nellie in 2003, so they are sisters by birth and by adoption. Adria is about two years younger.
What does Simone Biles' family do for a living?
Ronald is a U.S. Air Force veteran, and Nellie has a nursing background. Together they own World Champions Centre. Adam previously worked as the gym's general manager, Adria pursued dentistry, and Jonathan plays in the NFL.
Where is World Champions Centre located?
World Champions Centre is in Spring, Texas, just north of Houston. It is tied to Simone's family because Ronald and Nellie own it, and Simone trains there, which keeps her career close to home.
