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Olympian Gymnast Simone Arianne Biles is an auto aficionado. One of the richest female athletes, Biles favorite luxury item happens to be cars. The otherwise skinflint gymnast does not hold back when it comes to cars. From Mercedes to Range Rover, her garage is lined up with all the big names. While she drives her cars with ease now, there was a time when that was not the case.

Simone Biles learned how to drive a car from her father. She was barely 16 at the time. In her autobiography, the gymnastics GOAT reminisced about the time she drove a car on the highway for the first time. While her co-passengers were terrified at first, she gradually earned their trust with her flawless driving skills.

From empty parking lots to highways

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In her book, Courage to Soar, Simone Biles has given a detailed account of how her journey of becoming a car enthusiast and a trusted driver started. Simone Biles’ driving instructor was none other than her father, Ron. Talking about those days, she wrote, “My dad taught me the basics in a huge, empty parking lot. Then it was time to take the show on the road. The first time I drove on a highway, with traffic, I was so tense that my legs were like sticks that wouldn?t bend.”

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The severe tension in the muscles led to the new driver being sore the next day. Recalling her sister’s reaction, she added, “The whole time, Adria was in the backseat of the car yelling, ‘We?re gonna die! She?s gonna kill us all.'” She then sarcastically added, “Thanks, sis!” After this, she started driving on her way back home from the gym. This not only helped her brush up her skills, but also gain the trust of her passengers, a.k.a papa Ron and sister Adria.

Read More: ?Are You Serious??: Dog Lover Simone Biles? Father Once Made a Strange Deal To Push Her Gymnastics Career in Line

In fact, it was her parents and sister who surprised Simone Biles with her first car for her sweet sixteenth birthday.

Simone Biles was thrilled with the surprise gift

A few months before her 16th birthday, Simone Biles begged her father for a car. Ron complied and taught her how to drive. He also did his research and selected the safest car for his daughter. However, he did leave the choice of color with the young gymnast.

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When Biles turned 16, she was not with her family but on an international tour. Therefore, she expected to see her new car when she returned. But when she did eventually get home, she didn’t find one. Tired and jetlagged, she went to sleep. However, not long after, she was woken up by her sister, who brought zebra-printed car interiors for her. Surprised by the change and thinking that all she’ll be receiving were the interiors, Simone was elated to try it on her father’s car.

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But once she went to her father, she was once again surprised when he took her to the garage. Turns out the family pranked the gymnast by hiding the car in the neighbor’s house. From screaming when the new driver took to wheel, to pranking them at whatever chance they get, if this isn’t a typical happy family, then what is?