Less than a week ago, Simone Biles was sipping champagne with Jonathan Owens, seemingly happier than ever. And why wouldn’t she have been? The gymnast was in the midst of the Gold Over America Tour, having the time of her life, and her husband had just spent his bye week in the NFL on tour with her. But fast forward a week, and Biles, while sipping not-champagne, looked anything but happy.

Distance seems to be a never-ending affair for Jonathan Owens and Simone Biles these days. After wrapping up the Gold Over America Tour on November 3, Simone was really looking forward to spending some quality time with her husband. As Biles put it, she wants to “cherish the moments that we get together… I’m really excited to go home, which will now be Chicago, and just spend time with my husband.” But when it came down to it, she couldn’t be there for the Chicago Bears’ Week 9 game.

Owens and the Bears flew to Glendale to take on the Arizona Cardinals. But it turned out to be a rough outing for the away side, who lost 29-9. They just couldn’t get anything going, failing to score a touchdown and giving up a staggering 213 rushing yards. Now, they’ve recorded two losses on the bounce after their Week 7 bye. Incidentally, Simone was in Detroit for the final stop on her tour, which meant she couldn’t be there to support her husband. You could really feel her absence in the gymnastics community, but what hit everyone the hardest was seeing her in tears.

Biles shared a four-picture collage on her Instagram story, writing, “a series …… 🤍,” presumably while she was in the airport, waiting to board her plane to Chicago. The first was a photo of her smiling, and the second featured a drink (likely a mimosa) in hand. But in the third picture, it became evident that she wasn’t feeling too happy about the tour ending. The fourth picture confirmed it: full-blown tears, swollen eyes, and a swollen face.

Fans really felt for her, recognizing how tough things can be for athletes behind the scenes. Especially after her previous posts. Simone Biles began her series by sharing a video of herself on the gymnastics mat, smiling as she looked back on the tour. “Last show day 🥹 bittersweet,” she wrote. The 27-year-old followed this up with a photo where she was hugging Jordan Chiles and Joscelyn Roberson.

Before the final night of the Gold Over America Tour, Simone Biles took the team out for dinner to celebrate just how successful the tour had been. So it made sense why the seven-time Olympic gold medalist was inconsolable at the airport after the curtains fell on the tour’s first edition. But it also brought up the question: could her tears be linked to the distance from Jonathan? It’s possible, especially considering they haven’t spent much time together since their marriage, and that distance has always been a thorn in their side.

Since tying the knot in 2023, Simone Biles and Jonathan Owens have been trying to make their long-distance relationship work. Biles opened up, saying, “As soon as we got married, we’ve been long-distance the whole time, and now I’m doing this tour. So, it’s like, when are we going to see each other?” Their romance shifted course following their marriage in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, when Owens joined the Green Bay Packers and relocated to Wisconsin after their wedding day, putting distance between them from the beginning of their journey together.

This particular year was eventful for both of them. Biles was preparing for the Paris Olympics, and Owens was occupied with preparing for a new journey, a new start with the Chicago Bears. After the Olympics ended, Biles immersed herself in the Gold Over America Tour, adding to the whirlwind of their schedules. With the holiday season approaching and the tour over, many thought this would mean more Biles appearances at NFL games. Especially the Bears’ game on Thanksgiving. But it seems that may not happen this year.

The heartbreaking reality of Simone Biles and Jonathan Owens’ long-distance love

A week ago, during an interview with Click On Detroit, Simone Biles discussed the challenges of being married to a professional athlete, especially on holidays like Thanksgiving. She explained, “Usually, some of the wives, we stay home because [our partners] get on a flight right after that game. So, we’re usually back home waiting for them. Because if not, we don’t know when we’ll be able to get home and spend that holiday with them.”

When asked about her plans for the upcoming Lions-Bears game on November 28, Biles offered a thoughtful yet uncertain response: “We’ll have to see since it is Thanksgiving.” It can be quite challenging to juggle between supporting Jonathan’s career and enjoying quality time with each other. But they always make the best of it whenever they are together.

Recently, during her Gold Over America Tour, Simone Biles shared some moments with Owens while he joined her on tour during his bye week (Week 7 in the NFL calendar). On Instagram, she posted a photo with the caption, “Bye week—bae comes on tour.” The pictures captured their escapades, such as spending time at an arcade and strolling through shops hand in hand.

One adorable moment occurred when Owens stood in front of the Gold Over America Tour’s logo  – a sign that read “GOAT” – acknowledging not just the show but also Biles’ status as the Greatest of All Time in gymnastics. Despite their packed schedules, their affection and encouragement for each other always radiate, showing that absence truly does make the heart grow fonder!