We often see Simone Biles competing with her signature curly box braids! Well, it is lovingly styled by her mother, Nellie Biles. However, during the Tokyo Olympics in 2020, Nellie couldn’t braid Simone’s hair for the first time because Simone Biles was struggling with twisties, which caused her to withdraw from the Olympics in 2021. Now, as Simone approaches the Paris Olympics with renewed confidence but before the games, a documentary trailer titled ‘Simone Biles Rising’ was released on YouTube. It offers a sneak peek into the close relationship between the mother and the daughter showing how every setback can be a stepping stone to success.

The docuseries begins with Nellie discussing how she braids Simone’s hair, “Would you be that braid coming here and braid then in one at the top like one big one here and then the one in the back”. She added when she last time attended any international competition saying, “ For me, it’s been four years since I actually attended an international competition, so it’s been a while. There’s a lot of what happened in Tokyo that tends to creep, you know, so those are the things that we want to make sure that she doesn’t go in that place again.” Well, in gymnastics, the twisties can turn a routine into a high-wire act, whereas in mid-air, a gymnast loses their bearings and risks everything.

Simone Biles once even described this disorienting experience as being “lost in the air.” Leading up to Team USA’s 2021 gymnastics rotation, Biles sensed something was off during her vault practice. She felt unsteady, unsure of her position in flight. “It doesn’t feel comfortable, I have no idea where I am, but I’m twisting, praying I land on my feet.” She was grappling with her body and mind.

Despite grappling with the twisties, Biles tried to push through. However, as competition day arrived, the challenge persisted. What should have been a 2.5 rotation was reduced to just 1.5 midair, forcing Biles to cut short her move and land with uncertainty. A routine that typically scores up to 15.8 yielded a modest 13.766, in contrast to her qualifying score of 15.183.

Faced with these setbacks, Biles made the tough decision to withdraw from the vault and bars finals back in 2021. Now, as she prepares for the Paris Olympics, Biles is supported by her mother even though she ain’t her biological mother. She ensures every aspect of her preparation minimizes the risk of such challenges resurfacing, safeguarding her Olympic glory amidst the twists and turns of elite competition.

As Nellie discussed braiding and comforting Simone Biles, for whom her mother’s touch feels like heaven, she shared, “Tokyo was the one time I did not braid Simone’s hair, she is an adult. I mean, this girl can braid her hair, but it’s not about her braiding her hair, girl, you look good if I’m gonna say so myself. It’s that bonding, it’s not saying much, it’s the touch, that’s what doing her hair means.”  This simple act shows their connection and support, providing Simone with comfort as she prepares for another Olympic journey. However, she’s the same mother who once used to pray to bond with Simone Biles!

Behind the success of Simone Biles is her mother, who prayed for her safety

After Simone Biles clinched her ninth national championship this year, her mother, Nellie, was there as always, cheering for her. Yet, Nellie couldn’t help but worry during Simone’s aerial feats. She admitted to Today, “All I’m thinking about and praying for is that she stays safe and completes that routine. I could hardly wait for it to be over with.” Nellie’s deep concern for Simone’s safety and success is rooted in the bond they share, forged since Nellie and her husband Ron adopted Simone and her younger sister, Adria, bringing them to Texas when Simone was just 6 years old.

Nellie used to pray for a strong familial connection after welcoming Simone and Adria into their home, emphasizing, “You wake up one day, and you realize you would do anything for these children, you would die for these children. And when that feeling comes, that’s when you know you are truly a mother.” Since then, Nellie has pillar of support for Simone Biles, always there to encourage and champion her daughter through every triumph and challenge, proving that love knows no bounds.