Early Life and Education of Simone Biles: A Complete Timeline
Discover the defining moments in the early life of Simone Biles. From birth to education, explore key events.
Simone Biles is an American artistic gymnast, renowned as the most decorated gymnast in history with 11 Olympic medals and 30 World Championship medals. She is considered one of the greatest gymnasts and Olympians of all time. Her 11 Olympic medals tie her with Věra Čáslavská as the second-most decorated female Olympic gymnast and give her the record for most Olympic medals earned by any U.S. gymnast.
March 14, 1997: Simone Biles Born
On March 14, 1997, Simone Arianne Biles Owens was born. She later became an accomplished American artistic gymnast.
2000: Grandparents Become Caretakers
In 2000, Simone Biles' maternal grandfather, Ron Biles, and his wife, Nellie Cayetano Biles, began temporarily caring for Simone and her siblings in Spring, Texas.
2003: Adoption by Grandparents
In 2003, Simone Biles and her younger sister Adria were formally adopted by her maternal grandfather, Ron Biles, and his wife, Nellie Cayetano Biles.
July 1, 2011: Elite Gymnastics Career Begins
On July 1, 2011, Simone Biles began her elite gymnastics career at age 14 at the 2011 American Classic in Houston.
2012: American Classic
In 2012, Simone Biles competed at the American Classic in Huntsville, Texas, placing first all-around and on vault.
2012: USA Gymnastics National Championships
In 2012, Simone Biles competed at the USA Gymnastics National Championships and was named to the U.S. Junior National Team.
2012: Switched to Home Schooling
In 2012, Simone Biles switched from public school to home schooling, allowing her to increase her training hours.
October 2013: Surgery for bone spurs
In October 2013, Simone Biles had surgery for bone spurs in her right tibia, which sidelined her for three weeks.
2013: World Championship Success
In 2013, Simone Biles became the individual all-around champion and floor exercise champion at the World Championships. She also won a bronze medal on balance beam.
2013: City of Jesolo Trophy and Tri-Meet in Chemnitz
In 2013, Simone Biles competed at the City of Jesolo Trophy, winning several titles. She also participated in an international tri-meet in Chemnitz, Germany, winning multiple titles.
2013: U.S. National All-Around Championship Win
In 2013, Simone Biles won the United States national all-around championship.
2013: U.S. National Gymnastics Championships
In August 2013, Simone Biles competed at the U.S. National Gymnastics Championships and was crowned the national all-around champion. She was also named to the Senior National Team and selected for the World Championships team.
2013: U.S. Classic Performance and Consultation with Sports Psychologist
In July 2013, Simone Biles competed poorly at the U.S. Classic. Following this, she consulted a sports psychologist, who helped her with anxiety and confidence issues.
2013: Senior International Debut
In March 2013, Simone Biles made her senior international debut at the American Cup, a FIG World Cup event, finishing second after a fall off the beam.
March 2014: Shoulder injury and withdrawal from American Cup
In March 2014, Simone Biles had a shoulder injury that led her to withdraw from the March 2014 American Cup.
August 4, 2014: Verbal Commitment to UCLA
On August 4, 2014, Simone Biles verbally committed to UCLA.
November 2014: Signed National Letter of Intent to UCLA
In November 2014, Simone Biles signed a National Letter of Intent to UCLA, planning to defer enrollment until after the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.
2014: World Championship Success
In 2014, Simone Biles became the balance beam champion at the World Championships and a member of the gold medal-winning United States team. She also won a silver medal on vault.
2014: 2014 Season
In 2014, Simone Biles missed the start of the season due to injury but later won the all-around at the U.S. Classic and repeated as national all-around champion at the USA Gymnastics National Championships.
2014: 2014 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships
On September 17, 2014, Simone Biles was selected to compete at the World Artistic Gymnastics Championships in Nanning, China. She led the United States to its second consecutive world team championship and won her second consecutive world all-around title.
July 2015: Signed with Octagon sports agency
In July 2015, Simone Biles signed with the Octagon sports agency.
July 29, 2015: Turned Professional
On July 29, 2015, Simone Biles announced that she would turn professional and forfeit her NCAA eligibility to compete for UCLA.
November 2015: Sponsorship by Nike
In November 2015, Simone Biles announced on Twitter her sponsorship by Nike.
November 23, 2015: Deal with GK Elite Sportswear
On November 23, 2015, Simone Biles signed a deal to allow GK Elite Sportswear to sell a line of leotards bearing her name.
2015: World Championship Success
In 2015, Simone Biles became a member of the gold medal-winning United States team. She also won a bronze medal on vault.
2015: 2015 Competitions
In 2015, Simone Biles competed at the AT&T American Cup, placing first. Later that month, she was nominated for the James E. Sullivan Award and won the all-around title at the City of Jesolo Trophy.
August 2016: Kellogg's Special Berries Gold Medal Edition
In August 2016, Kellogg's put the Final Five's picture on the Gold Medal Edition of Special Berries cereal.
September 2016: Spokesperson for Mattress Firm
In September 2016, Simone Biles became a spokesperson for Mattress Firm's program of supporting foster homes.
September 2016: Disclosure of ADHD and medication use
In September 2016, following a hack into the World Anti-Doping Agency, Simone Biles disclosed on Twitter that she has attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and was permitted to take medication for it, having received a therapeutic use exemption. She was applauded for her openness.
2016: Co-wrote autobiography
After the 2016 Rio Games, Biles co-wrote an autobiography with journalist Michelle Burford, Courage to Soar: A Body in Motion, A Life in Balance.
2016: Tide commercial
Before the 2016 Rio Games, Simone Biles appeared in a Tide commercial with gymnasts Dominique Dawes and Nadia Comăneci called "The Evolution of Power".
2016: Plans to Defer Enrollment
In 2016, Simone Biles planned to defer her enrollment at UCLA until after the Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.
2016: U.S. National All-Around Championship Win
In 2016, Simone Biles won the United States national all-around championship.
2016: Olympic Games Success
In 2016, Simone Biles won two gold medals in the individual all-around and on vault at the Olympic Games. She was also the champion on floor exercise and won a bronze medal on balance beam. Biles led the United States team, dubbed the "Final Five," to a gold medal.
January 8, 2017: "Courage to Soar" reached number one on The New York Times best sellers Young Adult list
On January 8, 2017, Simone Biles' autobiography, Courage to Soar: A Body in Motion, A Life in Balance, reached number one on The New York Times best sellers Young Adult list.
May 15, 2017: Elimination from Dancing with the Stars
On May 15, 2017, Simone Biles was eliminated from season 24 of Dancing with the Stars, finishing in fourth place.
August 2017: Relationship with Stacey Ervin Jr.
In August 2017, Simone Biles began a relationship with fellow gymnast Stacey Ervin Jr.
September 2017: Disclosure of ADHD diagnosis
In September 2017, Simone Biles spoke about having attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) after her medical records were leaked online. She revealed that she had been taking Ritalin to treat the condition during the Olympics, having been diagnosed as a child.
2017: Laureus World Sportswoman of the Year
In 2017, Simone Biles won the Laureus World Sportswoman of the Year.
January 18, 2018: Statement on Larry Nassar's abuse
On January 18, 2018, Simone Biles said that former USA Gymnastics physician Larry Nassar had sexually assaulted her and that USA Gymnastics helped cover it up.
2018: World Championship Success
In 2018, Simone Biles became the individual all-around champion, floor exercise champion, and vault champion at the World Championships and a member of the gold medal-winning United States team. She also won a silver medal on uneven bars and a bronze medal on balance beam.
2018: Broken toe and kidney stone
In 2018, Simone Biles suffered a broken toe and a kidney stone.
2018: U.S. National All-Around Championship Win
In 2018, Simone Biles won the United States national all-around championship and won all five gold medals in a single championship.
2018: Collaboration with Caboodles
In 2018, Simone Biles worked with Caboodles to create and market products for women with active lifestyles.
2019: World Championship Success
In 2019, Simone Biles became the individual all-around champion, floor exercise champion, balance beam champion, and vault champion at the World Championships and a member of the gold medal-winning United States team.
2019: Laureus World Sportswoman of the Year
In 2019, Simone Biles won the Laureus World Sportswoman of the Year.
2019: U.S. National All-Around Championship Win
In 2019, Simone Biles won the United States national all-around championship.
March 2020: End of relationship with Stacey Ervin Jr.
In March 2020, Simone Biles' relationship with Stacey Ervin Jr. ended.
August 2020: Relationship with Jonathan Owens
In August 2020, Simone Biles started dating professional American football player Jonathan Owens after they met through the dating app Raya.
2020: 2020 Summer Olympics
At the 2020 Summer Olympics, Simone Biles withdrew from most of the competition after the qualification round due to "the twisties." She won a silver medal with the United States team nicknamed the "Fighting Four".
2020: Laureus World Sportswoman of the Year
In 2020, Simone Biles won the Laureus World Sportswoman of the Year.
February 2021: Criticism of ESPN's SportsCenter
In February 2021, Simone Biles criticized ESPN's SportsCenter for excluding women athletes in their "Greatest of All Time" picture.
April 2021: Apparel sponsorship with Athleta
In April 2021, Simone Biles announced that she was leaving Nike for a new apparel sponsorship with the Gap's Athleta brand.
September 15, 2021: Testimony to the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee
On September 15, 2021, Simone Biles testified to the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee that she blamed "the entire system" for enabling and perpetuating Nassar's crimes, saying that USA Gymnastics and the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee "failed to do their jobs".
September 2021: Appearance on Time 100
In September 2021, Simone Biles appeared on the Time 100, an annual list of the 100 most influential people in the world, for "championing mental health".
2021: U.S. National All-Around Championship Win
In 2021, Simone Biles won the United States national all-around championship.
February 15, 2022: Engagement to Jonathan Owens
On February 15, 2022, Simone Biles announced her engagement to Jonathan Owens.
July 7, 2022: Presidential Medal of Freedom
On July 7, 2022, Simone Biles was presented with the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation's highest honor given to civilians, by President Joe Biden in a ceremony at the White House.
2022: Presidential Medal of Freedom Awarded
In 2022, President Joe Biden awarded Simone Biles the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
April 22, 2023: Marriage to Jonathan Owens
On April 22, 2023, Simone Biles and Jonathan Owens got married.
December 19, 2023: Controversial comments on The Pivot Podcast
On December 19, 2023, Simone Biles and Jonathan Owens went viral for an interview on The Pivot Podcast, where Owens made controversial comments about their relationship.
2023: World Championship Success
In 2023, Simone Biles became the individual all-around champion, floor exercise champion, balance beam champion, and a member of the gold medal-winning United States team at the World Championships. She also won a silver medal on vault.
2023: Eighth U.S. Gymnastics Title
In 2023, Simone Biles won her eighth U.S. Gymnastics title, breaking the 90-year-old U.S. Gymnastics title record previously held by Alfred Jochim.
2023: U.S. National All-Around Championship Win
In 2023, Simone Biles won the United States national all-around championship.
2024: Calf injury at the Olympic Games
At the 2024 Olympic Games, Simone Biles aggravated a calf injury in her left leg during the qualification round.
2024: Participated in the ceremonial passing of the Olympic flag
In 2024, Simone Biles participated in the ceremonial passing of the Olympic flag at the closing ceremony, signifying the end of the 2024 Paris Olympics and the transition into the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
2024: Comeback of the Year
In 2024, Simone Biles won the Laureus Comeback of the Year.
2024: U.S. National All-Around Championship Win
In 2024, Simone Biles won the United States national all-around championship, becoming the oldest female gymnast to ever win the title. She also won all five gold medals in a single championship.
2024: Olympic Games Success
In 2024, Simone Biles won two gold medals in the individual all-around and on vault at the Olympic Games. She also won a silver medal on floor exercise. Biles led the United States team, dubbed the "Golden Girls," to a gold medal.
2024: Response to criticism of Jonathan Owens
In April of 2024, on the Call Her Daddy podcast, regarding the controversy surrounding Jonathan Owens' comments, Simone Biles said, "I thought it was hilarious at first and then they hurt my feelings... 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."
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