"I would like to make amends with Simone Biles personally"- Gymnast's biological mother Shannon who once abandoned her opens after Paris Olympics win

By Animesh Pandey

Modified Aug 17, 2024 04:55 GMT

After her stupendous performance at the Paris Olympics, Simone Biles is being pursued by her estranged mother, Shannon Biles, who wants to reconcile with her. In a recent interview with The Daily Mail, the American gymnast's mother opened up on why she had to abandon her children, and why she would like to make amends with everyone, especially Simone Biles.

Biles' biological mother revealed that she had been living a tough life, and works as a cashier at a discount grocery store. She is loaded with debts and has barely managed to pay some of them off.

Shannon Biles also mentioned that despite the best of her attempts, she hasn't been able to make contact with either Simone Biles or her adoptive parents, i.e. her grandparents Ronald and Nellie.

In the interview with The Daily Mail, Biles' mother said,

"I would like to make amends with Simone personally - I'm just waiting for her and Adria. I speak to Adria more than I speak to Simone. I would just ask her to forgive me. Can we move forward? Don't judge me on my past. Let's move forward."

For the unversed, Simone Biles was born to Shannon Biles and Kevin Clemons in 1997 in Columbus, Ohio. While Clemons abandoned them, Biles' mother fell prey to drug addiction, due to which her four children, including Simone, were sent to foster care. They were later brought back by Shannon's parents, Ronald and his second wife, Nellie. While Simone Biles and her sister Adria were adopted by Ron and Nellie, Shannon's aunt Harriet adopted the older two sisters.

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Simone Biles' biological mother on their relationship

Simone Biles' adoptive parents [in Red] watching the Team All Around Finals along with her husband Jonathan Owens at Paris Olympics 2024 [Image for Representational Purposes] [Image Source: Getty]

Simone Biles' biological mother Shannon Biles had abandoned her and her siblings when she was barely six years old. While Simone Biles has not opened up about her biological mother much, she has refused any reconciliation.

On this, Shannon Biles revealed to The Daily Mail,

"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 my father] didn't want me coming in and out of their lives when I wasn't right."

When Ron Biles heard about his grandchildren being in foster care, he immediately brought them to his home. He allowed his daughter to recover, on the condition that she would never meet them again.

Shannon Biles further mentioned,

"When we signed the [adoption] papers, it was like my dad flipped a switch on me - no communication, don't call and don't visit. That's how it was in the beginning."

Simone Biles recently won four medals at the Paris Olympics, including three gold and one silver medal. With that, the American gymnast became not only the most decorated American gymnast of all time but also the second most decorated Olympic gymnast alongside Czech gymnast Vera Caslavska, who has won 11 medals overall.