Simone Biles is widely regarded as one of the greatest gymnasts in history. While her status as the undisputed GOAT might be debatable, what you cannot dispute is her claim as the most decorated gymnast of all time.
When it comes to the Olympics, she is no slouch on the grandest stage, either, cementing herself among the Top 10 most decorated female gymnasts. She is also level with the legendary Shannon Miller for the most Olympic medals won by an American gymnast.
The latest Netflix documentary ‘Simone Biles Rising’ follows her return to the Paris Olympics in 2024 after withdrawing from the 2020 edition, due to “the twisties,” a mental block causing a loss of the sense of spatial awareness while performing twists in the air.
With the release of the new doc, fans have become curious to learn more about her personal life. One such interest surrounds her parents, particularly her mom, along with her ethnicity.
Simone Biles’ Mom Nellie: What’s Her Ethnicity?
Simone Biles’ mother (albeit not biological), Nellie Biles, is of Belizean ethnicity. Nellie was born in Belize, a small Central American country known for its lively culture and wide-ranging ethnic groups, making Simone Biles part-Belizean through her maternal lineage.
Chilling on the east coast of Central America, Belize blends a variety of cultures like Mestizo, Creole, Maya, Garifuna, and more. This cool blend is evident in their traditions, food, and languages. Nellie Biles, originally Nellie Cayetano, brings all this cultural goodness to her family, making Simone’s background super diverse.
Simone was born on March 14, 1997, in Columbus, Ohio, the third of four siblings, to Shanon Biles and Kelvin Clemons, her biological parents. Both had issues with addiction and since her mom was on her own raising the kids, she had a tough time taking care of them. Simone subsequently spent three years in foster care due to her mother’s addiction struggles.
Simone and her sister Adria were adopted by Ronald Biles, her maternal grandfather, and his wife Nellie Biles when she was six. Shanon’s aunt Harriet adopted the two oldest kids. The Olympian is eternally grateful for the adoption because she says it gave her a “second shot at life.” Biles never hesitates to credit her career achievements to her adoptive parents, who are unquestionably her biggest cheerleaders.
Ronald and Nellie, who bumped into each other in 1977 when Ronald was serving in the Air Force, have always encouraged Simone to pursue her talents. They are the owners of ‘World Champions Centre,’ the training facility in Spring, Texas, where Biles began training in 2014. Adam Biles, her brother, used to be the general manager of the gym.
Ronald and Nellie started the gym because they figured their daughter needed a stable environment to train with her longtime coach, Aimee Boorman. Bouncing from one gym to the other depending on Boorman’s employment was obviously not a preferred choice.
The most support Simone has ever needed from her parents was during the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, when she decided to withdraw from most of the competition and focus on her mental well-being after experiencing the “twisties.” She did, however, win a silver medal with her team and a bronze medal on the balance beam.
Both her father and mother have never missed any of Simone’s competitions barring the Tokyo Olympics due to the unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic. The gymnast has since opened up about how much she missed her parents during the Tokyo events.
The entire Biles family carry a pretty close bond, with Simone always expressing how much she appreciates their unwavering support. Her mother, Nellie, was the chief planner for her wedding when she tied the knot with NFL player Jonathan Owens in May 2023, with her father walking her down the aisle. Simone appreciates the unconditional love and the rock-solid support system offered by her parents and considers them among the biggest role models in her life.
Recently, Ronald and Nellie were there to support her at the 2024 U.S. Gymnastics Championships. They’re still a significant part of Simone’s life as she gears up for the much-anticipated 2024 Paris Olympics.
What Is ‘Simone Biles Rising’ About?
‘Simone Biles Rising’ is a new documentary on Netflix revolving around the story of one of the most incredible American-Belizean gymnasts. As Simone Biles prepares for her return to the 2024 Paris Olympics, the doc explores how she overcame her mental health struggles that contributed to her withdrawal from the Olympics four years ago.
Biles was everyone’s favorite to earn multiple gold medals in 2020, but she chose to prioritize her well-being and opted to step back from the competition. Fast forward 4 years, and she’s more determined than ever to finish what she started.
Directed by Katie Walsh and produced by Gotham Chopra, Ameeth Sankaran, Giselle Parets, and Janey Miller, the doc offers us more than a glimpse into Simone’s preparation and her determination to reclaim her status as an elite gymnast. The four-episode series is produced by Religion of Sports in association with the Olympic Channel.
‘Simone Biles Rising’ premiered on Netflix on July 17, 2024.
