The Xfinity US Gymnastics Championships has entered the senior women’s category on its second day. However, Simone Biles has continued to show her full charisma in the routines. This evening, her extraordinary floor exercise fetched her a stunning 15.100, slightly less than her previous score (15.200) in the same event. But it generated a lot of emotions across the stands. While the fans in the arena erupted in joy witnessing Simone advance to her ninth US Gymnastics Championships title, mom Nellie Biles was in tears. 

However, such a display of emotion is not new to her. Nellie is a common sight in almost every competition Simone Biles takes part in. A few weeks ago, at the 2024 Core Hydration Classic, Nellie Biles had also been seen in the stands. Tonight, Adria (Simone’s sibling), Baby Biles (Simone’s niece), and her parents joined Nellie. Simone’s husband Jonathan Owens remained the constant cheering voice accompanying the Biles family in the stands tonight. The montage of support for Simone was in full swing in the Dickies Arena tonight as her family wore a specially tagged tee with the gymnast’s name. 

However, all hell broke loose when Simone Biles concluded her floor exercise with a marvelous end-move. In the stand, the entire family lauded her with a standing ovation and tears of happiness. For mother Nellie, her sky-high performance is not new. The proud mother has had to watch her daughter fail on the mat rarely in the years. Meanwhile, her careful eyes have made sure that Simone’s preparation never goes off-track. Nellie Biles is the reason that Simone Biles has had the world-class facility in WCC, the much-cherished gymnastics den. 

It was Nellie Biles who sold her 14 nursing homes to set up the facility in Texas in 2015. Later, the move turned into the pinnacle of success when the gymnastic couple Cecile and Laurent Landi were appointed as Simone Biles’ mentors in the WCC. In the years, several budding gymnasts joined the facility to hone their prowess and Nellie was felt eclectic to make her mark. Her positive mindset once led her to say, “Give everybody an opportunity to see where the chips fall. And right now, I think we’re doing a great job.” Through all such steps taken by her mother, Simone Biles flaunted herself as the happiest one. 

Nellie has been the driving force in Simone Biles’ gymnastic journey   

Simone Biles started her gymnastics odyssey at the age of 6 and it flourished under the care of Nellie and Ronald Biles. In paving the success route for their daughter, the couple made an effort to make the facility competitive and full of world-class equipment. Initially, in 2013, the primary scene had not been hopeful. But with Simone’s victory in the 2014 and 2015 world all-around titles, the situation saw a drastic change as the facility extended and several names were included in the fold. 

In maneuvering the entire outset and even appointing Cecile and Laurent Landi, Nellie Biles was the most pivotal mind. She did not have any experience in becoming familiar with the equipment. But watching Simone performing in different corners and different facilities all over the world made her able to take a call in shaping the WCC. The Biles couple counted nothing constraint when they faced a crisis, the lack of staffers and eyes of doubting when Larry Nassar, the national gymnastics team doctor, faced the conviction for se**ally abusing the team members. 

The couple stood firm, and the success of WCC touched the ceiling over the years. However, for Simone Biles, the presence of Nellie and Ronald Biles means everything. In giving a sneak peek at her bond with the couple, she confessed the backstory in the Call Her Daddy podcast. 

An emotional Simone had spelled out, “For me, it means the world. ’cause being adopted since I was six years old to now, it’s been a long road and journey like career wise and just like who Simone is instead of Simone Biles. So it’s been a long journey but their support means the world to me”. Now when she is again turning to touch the sky, Simone Biles’ family still acts as the rock behind her.