“Not Going to Die”: Simone Biles’ Sister Expresses Adoptive Parents’ Bittersweet Gymnastics Decision

“I was obsessed with my sister; I still am because we’re really best friends.” Adria and Simone Biles are like two peas in a pod. From experiencing foster care together to cheering on her from the stands decades later, the younger sister has been through it all. At the 2024 Paris Olympics, every time you caught a glimpse of the 25-year-old in the stands, she was beaming with pride. However, only a few know how the sisters found their way onto the mat. It wasn’t before their parents, Roland and Nellie Biles, literally thought the sisters were going to get themselves killed!

In episode 6 of The Chris Osmond Show on August 28, the younger Biles opened up when Osmond asked, “Was the initial start of ‘Hey, we want to see you guys succeed in this’? Or did they see some sort of interest from you two in that area where what was like the spark of interest?” Flashing a mischievous smile, Adria responded, “I think the push was to get us off the couches in the living room because we would like flip around. Like we were always flipping around.” 

Being the older one, Simone Biles taught her younger sister how to flip in the backyard. When the adoptive parents noticed, they didn’t think it was safe. “We need to get you guys somewhere where you’re not going to die,” Adria recalled them saying. She further confessed, “I’m telling you like our old house, there was like a railing from the upstairs, and we would jump over the railing onto the couch in the living room.” Well, that and also the fact that Simone could imitate teen girl’s routines when she was just six years old! 

On a daycare field trip to a gym in 2003, coaches watched in awe as little Simone perfectly imitated trained gymnasts. Soon a letter was sent to her parents, encouraging them to enroll the future superstar in regular classes. And just within a year, Adria’s obsession sent her down the same path. But there was one major problem. Her own sister.

After Adria quit the sport at 17 to pursue a career in hygiene and dental assisting, Simone hilariously revealed: “Whenever she went to competitions like ‘Oh, her sister always wins, she always wins, that’s not fair.’ So she quit.” Later, the Olympian’s sister also pursued a career in dancing and earned a spot on Houston Astros’ professional dance team , the Shooting Stars.

While the mom and dad have always been supportive of the sister’s career choices, there was a time when Nellie was left severely unimpressed with Adria—she even forced the former sister to quit!  

Adria’s gymnastics dream was cut short once

The Biles sisters were babies when adversity knocked on their door. Their biological mother struggled with drug and alcohol abuse. Removed from her care, they spent about three years in the foster care system. The 27-year-old grew protective of her younger sister, feeling entirely responsible for her. However, their grandparents, Nellie and Ronald Biles, adopted them. Osmond touched upon their relationship, wondering how Adria followed in her sister’s footsteps.

The 25-year-old elaborated, “So she started at like probably six or seven and then I only wanted to do it because she wanted to do it.” Even though they’re only two years apart, Adria confessed that they’re best friends to this day. “So my parents put us both in and my very first competition. I was like, ‘Why are they looking at me?’ Like I was like. I could not get it together.” Unfortunately, as the G.O.A.T. continued to thrive on the mat, it wasn’t the same for her little sister. 

Adria exclaimed, “My mom was like, ‘Okay we’re done’. She pulled me out and I was like ‘no, I want to still do it.'” But she was still adamant. If her elder sister was doing it, she had to do it too. “The following year my mom put me back in as like a birthday present and then I fell in love with it. So yeah, we’ve done it for a while.” She continued following Simone Biles’ footsteps and competed as an elite gymnast until she graduated from high school a decade later.

However, she did eventually quit. “When I was ready to quit, they were like okay, like that’s fine,” she stated. The former gymnast now works at the World Champions Centre (WCC) at the front desk and soaks up all the action and sisterly love from the front row itself. Simone Biles continues to train there, so their bond is stronger than ever. What do you think of this wholesome duo? Let us know!

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