Simone Biles – Biography, Medals, Husband & Tokyo Twisties
Simone Biles is widely considered the most accomplished gymnast of all time. With a record-breaking collection of Olympic and World Championship medals, she has redefined the limits of the sport. Her career includes remarkable triumphs, a highly publicized withdrawal from the Tokyo Olympics due to a mental block, and a powerful return to competition in Paris.
Born on March 14, 1997, in Columbus, Ohio, Biles stands at 4 feet 8 inches (142 cm). As of 2026, she is 29 years old. Her journey from a young gymnast in Texas to a global icon is a story of extraordinary talent, resilience, and influence that extends far beyond the gymnasium.
What Is Simone Biles’ Net Worth and Personal Life?
- Full Name: Simone Arianne Biles Owens
- Born: March 14, 1997 (age 27)
- Height: 4 ft 8 in (142 cm)
- Net Worth: Estimated $16 million (2025)
- Spouse: Jonathan Owens (m. 2023)
- Olympic Medals: 7 (4 gold, 1 silver, 2 bronze)
- World Championship Medals: 30 (23 gold)
- Notable Event: Withdrew from Tokyo 2020 team final due to mental health
Key Insights
- Simone Biles is the most decorated gymnast in history, with 37 Olympic and World medals combined.
- Her marriage to NFL safety Jonathan Owens in 2023 drew significant public attention.
- The ‘Twisties’ incident during Tokyo 2020 brought global awareness to athlete mental health.
- She has a memoir ‘Courage to Soar’ and remains an advocate for child welfare and mental health.
- Biles is expected to compete at Paris 2024, aiming to add to her medal count.
Fast Facts About Simone Biles
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Birthplace | Columbus, Ohio, USA |
| Discipline | Artistic Gymnastics |
| Coach | Cecile Landi (personal coach) |
| First Olympics | Rio 2016 (4 gold, 1 bronze) |
| Signature Move | The Biles (double layout half-out), The Biles II (triple-double) – named after her |
| Awards | Presidential Medal of Freedom (2022), Time 100 most influential (2021) |
As for her net worth, a specific, confirmed figure is not available from the primary sources. Estimates, however, place her net worth around $16 million as of 2025, largely from endorsement deals and competition earnings.
The available sources confirm that Biles is married to Jonathan Owens, an NFL safety. The exact marriage date is not detailed in the supplied sources, but the year 2023 is widely referenced.
How Many Olympic Medals Has Simone Biles Won?
Biles’ Olympic medal count is a testament to her dominance. According to USA Gymnastics and the International Olympic Committee, she has won a total of 11 Olympic medals across three Games: Rio 2016, Tokyo 2020, and Paris 2024. This achievement includes 7 gold medals, 2 silver medals, and 2 bronze medals.
Her first Olympic appearance was in Rio de Janeiro in 2016, where she won four gold medals (team, all-around, vault, floor) and one bronze (balance beam), becoming the first female U.S. gymnast to win four golds at a single Games (Britannica). She later returned in Paris 2024 to win team gold, all-around gold, vault gold, and floor silver, pushing her total to 11 Olympic medals (NBC Olympics).
On the world stage, her record is even more extensive. Biles has won 30 World Championship medals, including 23 golds, making her the most decorated gymnast in history (NBC Olympics). Her first major world title came in 2013, and she later became the first woman to win six world all-around titles (Olympics.com).
What Happened to Simone Biles at the Tokyo Olympics?
The 2020 Tokyo Olympics, held in 2021, marked a pivotal moment in Biles’ career. She withdrew from several events, including the team final, due to a dangerous mental block known as the “twisties.” This condition affects a gymnast’s spatial awareness in the air, making it nearly impossible to perform complex skills safely.
Contrary to some initial speculation, the withdrawal was not due to a physical injury. The top cited sources confirm that she stepped back to prioritize her mental health and physical safety (New York Times). Her public decision brought the issue of mental health in elite sports to the forefront, sparking a global conversation about athlete well-being (Britannica).
Despite the withdrawal, Biles did not leave Tokyo empty-handed. She returned to competition later in the Games to win a silver medal in the team event and a bronze medal on the balance beam (Britannica).
What Are the “Twisties”?
The “twisties” is a term used in gymnastics to describe a disorienting mental block where the gymnast loses control of their body in the air while performing twisting elements. It is a serious safety issue that can lead to dangerous falls and injuries.
Biles’ withdrawal from the Tokyo team final was explicitly due to the “twisties,” a recognized mental block, and not a standard physical injury. She later competed on other apparatus.
What Book Did Simone Biles Write?
Simone Biles is the author of a memoir titled “Courage to Soar: A Body in Motion, A Life in Balance.” The book details her journey from a childhood in foster care to becoming the world’s most decorated gymnast. It covers the challenges she faced, including her experience with the Larry Nassar abuse, and her path to finding her voice.
The memoir was published in 2016 and has been praised for its honest and inspirational tone, particularly for young readers. While there is speculation about future book projects, no new titles have been announced in the current search results.
Key Moments in Simone Biles’ Career and Life
- 1997 – Born in Columbus, Ohio
- 2013 – Won first World Championship gold (all-around)
- 2016 – Rio Olympics – 4 gold, 1 bronze
- 2018 – Revealed she was a survivor of Larry Nassar abuse
- 2020/2021 – Tokyo Olympics – withdrew from team final due to twisties; returned for balance beam bronze
- 2022 – Received Presidential Medal of Freedom; married Jonathan Owens
- 2023 – First Black woman to win the Laureus World Sportswoman of the Year Award
- 2024 – Won 3 gold medals and 1 silver at the Paris Olympics
What’s Confirmed and What’s Still Unclear
| Established Information | Information That Remains Unclear |
|---|---|
| Simone Biles is married to Jonathan Owens (confirmed 2023). | Whether she will compete in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics (she has not announced retirement). |
| She has 7 Olympic medals and 30 World Championship medals. | Details of any future book or memoir projects beyond ‘Courage to Soar’. |
| She withdrew from the Tokyo team final due to the ‘twisties’ (a mental block). | Exact net worth figure as financial disclosures are private; estimates vary. |
| Her height is 4 ft 8 in, born March 14, 1997. | Full extent of her health (mental and physical) post-Tokyo – she has said she is in a good place. |
| Her net worth is estimated around $16 million from endorsements and competitions. |
Simone Biles’ Impact on Gymnastics and Mental Health
Simone Biles redefined women’s gymnastics with unprecedented difficulty. Her decision to prioritize mental health over competition at Tokyo 2020 sparked a global conversation about athlete well-being. Biles has used her platform to advocate for survivors of sexual abuse, child welfare, and mental health resources. Her return to competition in 2023 signaled resilience, and her legacy as the GOAT is secure.
Notable Quotes and Authoritative Sources
“I have to focus on my mental health and not jeopardize my health and well-being.”
— Simone Biles, Tokyo 2020 press conference
“She is the greatest gymnast of all time.”
— Nastia Liukin, former Olympic champion
Key authoritative sources for this article include Olympics.com, Team USA, Wikipedia, and the New York Times.
What’s Next for Simone Biles?
Biles has qualified for and competed in the 2024 Paris Olympics, where she added three gold medals and one silver to her collection. She continues endorsement deals with major brands and has launched a mental health initiative. Speculation about a possible return for LA 2028 remains, but she has not confirmed her plans. Fans can follow her official social media for updates. For more on her career, see the Simone Biles career achievements and Olympic medals page. Learn more about the Tokyo Games Simone Biles mental health and the twisties situation.
Frequently Asked Questions About Simone Biles
What is Simone Biles’ Reddit community about?
The subreddit r/SimoneBiles is a fan community discussing her career, appearances, and news, but it is not officially associated with her.
What is Simone Biles’ signature move?
The ‘Biles’ is a double layout with a half twist on floor exercise. The ‘Biles II’ is a triple-double (triple twisting double back).
Does Simone Biles have any children?
As of 2025, she does not have children.
How many World Championship medals does Simone Biles have?
She has 30 World Championship medals (23 gold, 3 silver, 4 bronze).
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