Who is Simone Biles?
Simone Biles is one of the most celebrated artistic gymnasts of all time. Whether it’s balance, flexibility, agility, or endurance, Biles bodies every quality considered a staple for an exceptional gymnast. She’s literally “elastigirl” personified. With over 30 Olympic and World Championship medals, Simone is one of the most decorated and talented gymnasts the world has ever seen.
In addition to her record-breaking feats in the realm of gymnastics, Biles is known for her bright, tenacious personality and her humanistic approach to sports. When her medical records were leaked online, revealing that she had been taking Ritalin, Simone Biles owned it, asserting that ADHD was nothing to be ashamed of. In 2020, the sensational gymnast pulled out of the Tokyo Olympics, admitting that she wasn’t in a good place mentally or physically. Her decision to withdraw was lauded by many across the globe. It served as a reminder to other athletes to prioritize their mental and physical wellbeing at all times.
The gymnast also uses her partnership with Gap’s Athleta as a platform to be an activist for women, especially female athletes.
Being one of the most celebrated athletes of the past decade has definitely impacted Simone’s bank account, especially when one considers how young she is. Let’s explore just how much Simone Biles is worth in 2022 and what constitutes her multiple income streams.
Quick Facts
| Full Name: | Simone Arianna Biles |
| Popular Name: | Simone Biles |
| Gender: | Female |
| Birth Date: | March 14, 1997 |
| Age: | 25 years |
| Parents: | Ron Biles, Nellie Cayetano Biles |
| Siblings: | Adria Biles, Tevin Biles, Ashely Biles |
| Birth Place: | Columbus, Ohio |
| Nationality: | American |
| Ethnicity: | African-American |
| Education: | Benfer Elementary School, University of People |
| Marital Status: | N/A |
| Sexual Orientation: | Straight |
| Wife/Spouse: | N/A |
| Children: | N/A |
| Dating: | Jonathan Owens |
| Net Worth: | $16 million |
| Source of Wealth: | Olympic Competitions, Brand Endorsements |
| Height: | 4ft7 (1.42m) |
| Weight: | 47kg (104lbs) |
Early Life and Career Information
Biles was born in Columbus, Ohio, the third of four siblings. Her birth mother, Shannon Biles, could not care for Simone and her three siblings. All four children went in and out of foster care. On hearing this, Simone’s maternal grandfather stepped in, adopting Simone and her younger sister Adria. Her two older siblings were taken in by Ron’s sister, Harriet.
The revered athlete first tried gymnastics at age six during a daycare field trip. The instructors suggested she continue with gymnastics, so her parents enrolled her in an optional training program at Bannon’s gymnastics. She began training with coach Aimee Boorman at age eight.
In 2012, Biles chose to switch from public school to home school, increasing her training to approximately 20 to 32 hours a week.
Biles began her elite career at age 14 on July 1, 2011, at the 2011 American Classic in Houston. She placed third all-around, first on vault and balance beam, fourth on floor exercise, and eighth on uneven bars. Her senior international debut was at the 2013 American Cup, a FIG world cup event in March. She and Katelyn Ohashi were named replacements for Elizabeth Price and 2012 Olympic gold medalist Kyla Ross, who withdrew from the competition because of injuries. Biles led for two rotations but finished second behind her teammate, Ohashi, after a fall off the beam.
In July, Biles competed at the 2013 US Classic. She performed poorly, falling several times, and did not compete for vault after twisting her ankle on the floor exercise. In the aftermath of this poor performance, Biles consulted a sports psychologist whom she credits with helping her anxiety and confidence issues and allowing her to begin her streak of dominance in the sport.
On August 9, Biles won her first Olympic gold medal in the gymnastics team event. The only gymnast for Team USA to compete on all four events in the final, she contributed an all-around score of 61.833 (15.933 on vault, 14.800 on bars, 15.300 on beam, and 15.800 on floor) as the Americans won the gold with a score of 184.897, over 8 points ahead of the silver medal Russian team.
In September 2016, Biles’ medical information was released. She was accused of doping to enhance performance following the Russian cyber espionage group Fancy Bear’s hack into the World Anti-Doping Agency.
Biles then disclosed on Twitter that she has Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and was permitted to take medication for it, having applied for and received a Therapeutic Use Exemption. Many praised her for handling the situation with openness and vulnerability. Since then, Biles has been an impactful advocate for mental health and overall wellness.
Simone’s Biles Net Worth
Simone Biles has a reported net worth of $16 million, a fortune she obtained through Olympic wins, which seems to be increasing in her career. Like many other athletes, the gymnast and mental health advocate has signed many deals with different companies, contributing to her ever-growing net worth. Some of the companies she signed with include: Cerebral, UberEats, MasterClass, and Facebook.
Lessons from the Life of Simone Biles
Blow your Own Trumpet
During one of her competitions, Biles wore a leotard which read GOAT, in the back region. This move was met with a lot of criticism from many people, purporting that it was arrogant of her to do so. When asked about it in an interview, Biles replied, “everyone tells you you’re great, but the moment you say it yourself, it becomes a problem.” Through her actions, the gymnast encourages the rest of us not to count on others to validate us when we could simply do so ourselves.
Prioritize Yourself
The most remarkable thing about Simone Biles is her understanding of the fact that she has inherent value, whether or not she’s able to participate in any competition. She never feels like she has to compromise her mental health or wellbeing to prove to her supporters and the world at large that she’s indeed extraordinary. There are numerous cases where she pulls out of competitions just because she feels that’s what’s best for her at the time. She’s utterly unapologetic about putting herself first.
