Shanon Biles, the birth mother of American Olympic multi-gold medalist Simone Biles, is seeking to reconcile with her daughter after years of estrangement due to her past struggles with addiction.
In a recent interview with the Daily Mail, Shanon opened up about the challenges she faced, which led to her losing custody of Simone and her sister, Adria. Her battle with addiction and the resulting separation from her daughters have weighed heavily on her.
Reflecting on her difficult decision, Shanon said, “It took me six years before I saw my children again. I was respecting my dad to let the kids transition. He felt that was the best thing for them.” She added, “It was hard to give up my kids, but I had to do what I had to do. I wasn’t able to care for them. I was still using, and he didn’t want me coming in and out of their lives when I wasn’t right.”
Simone, who is widely regarded as the greatest gymnast of all time, was raised by her grandparents, whom she considers her primary support system. Shanon revealed that she has not been able to reconnect with Simone despite efforts from both her and Simone’s biological father, Kevin Clemons.
“I want to see my kids. I would like to make amends with Simone personally — I’m just waiting for her and Adria,” Shanon expressed, adding, “I would just ask her to forgive me. Can we move forward? Don’t judge me on my past. Let’s move forward.”