You know what they say, ‘Life’s what you make of it,’ and Simone Biles and Jonathan Owens are making the most of their first Christmas as a married couple. Isn’t it just beautiful how they’ll be spending the day together in Chicago, despite all their busy schedules? Jonathan’s got his game with the Bears against the Seattle Seahawks the very next day after Christmas, but they’re still finding time to enjoy the holiday just the two of them. Simone mentioned that this would be “really nice” because it would be their first Christmas alone together as a couple. After all the distances they’ve been through this year, that sounds like such a special moment, right?

But here’s the twist: Simone had a sacrifice to make to be with her hubby! Well, Biles won’t be spending Christmas with her family like she’s used to, and that’s gotta be tough. Her dad, aka granddad, Ronald Biles, used to make Christmas so magical for her. He really went out of his way to make her wishes come true, like that one Christmas when he did something special she’d wanted for years.

Simone Biles got her big break, but it came with a condition

Well, Simone’s dad was always about making things happen but in his own practical way. So, when Simone was gearing up for that big regional meet in 2008, the one where she needed to score high enough to qualify for Westerns, he was focused on her gymnastics goals. But Simone? Well, she had something else on her mind. “Dad, why can’t we get a dog?” she asked, which she mentioned in her memoir “Courage to Soar: A Body in Motion, A Life in Balance,“ hoping to sneak in a request while he was busy with paperwork. She and Biles’s sister, Adria, had been begging for a dog for years, every Christmas, every holiday, until one year, they even got giant stuffed animals instead.

“Look, I got you your dogs,” her dad said, smiling, thinking he’d solved the problem. But Simone wasn’t giving up that easily. Biles had a new plan. “Look how well we took care of Bo (neighbor’s dog). We’d be really responsible if we got a dog!” she said, trying to prove they were responsible enough. Her dad paused, looked at her, and for the first time, Simone thought maybe he was considering it. “Okay, Simone,” he said, tapping his pen on the table, “you’ll get your dog.”

Simone couldn’t believe it. “Are you serious?” she asked, wide-eyed, seeing her persistent Christmas request turning true. There was one condition, though—it’d happen only if she qualified for the Western championship. “If you train them right, they’re protective, obedient, and playful,” he explained. Just like that, the deal was made. Simone worked hard, hit all her routines at regionals, and placed first, securing her spot for Westerns. Her dad kept his word, and they went to Heidelberg to pick out a puppy. When Simone laid eyes on a little German shepherd, it was love at first sight. “This one,” she said, and that’s how Magne Elena Biles joined their family. Since that day, Simone’s been unstoppable, conquering the world while growing her family with even more love and joy!

Simone Biles was too nervous to tell her parents about Jonathan Owens!

A huge part of Simone Biles’s success comes from her parents, Ronald and Nellie Biles, who adopted Simone and her sister, Adria, when they were just 6 years old. Before that, Simone had a rough start. She was separated from her biological mom, spent time in foster care, and had to navigate a lot at a young age. But Simone has said that those early struggles actually set her up for a better life.

When Simone showed an interest in gymnastics at age 6, her parents didn’t waste a second. They signed her up for classes after her coaches noticed her natural talent, and the rest is history. They didn’t miss a single competition—except for one when COVID kept them away at the Tokyo Olympics. In the midst of all her accomplishments, Simone’s life took another turn in 2020 when she met Jonathan Owens. At first, Simone was nervous about introducing Jonathan to her parents. She was worried that they might not like him, joking that her parents could be a bit “harsh.”

But once Jonathan met her family, everything clicked. Simone recalls how it all “clashed really well,” and soon, her parents were inviting him over without her even being there. Fast forward to 2022, when Simone got engaged to Jonathan after two years of dating. Leading up to their wedding in May 2023, Simone’s mom played a huge role in helping her plan the big day, offering advice and support every step of the way. Simone looks to her parents as role models for the love and support they’ve shown her, and now, with Jonathan by her side, she’s living a happy life. The couple shares their home with two French bulldogs, Lilo and Rambo, while Jonathan’s bulldog, Zeus, completes their little family. Life for Simone and Jonathan is all about love, happiness, and the special bond they share with their families.