Simone Biles has turned gymnastics into something few athletes ever achieve: a sport-defining legacy. From her historic Olympic performances to her record-setting World Championship career, Biles has repeatedly changed expectations for what a gymnast can do. In 2026, at age 29, she remains one of the most recognizable athletes in the United States. Her story also reaches beyond medals, touching on family, marriage, mental health, business, and the future of gymnastics.
Who Is Simone Biles?
Simone Biles is an American artistic gymnast who became one of the most decorated athletes in gymnastics history. Born on March 14, 1997, in Columbus, Ohio, she grew up in Spring, Texas, and began gymnastics in 2003 after a daycare field trip introduced her to the sport. USA Gymnastics lists her as having 41 combined Olympic and World Championship medals, including 11 Olympic medals and 30 World medals.
Her competitive career has included three Olympic Games: Rio 2016, Tokyo 2020, and Paris 2024. At the 2024 Paris Olympics, she added four medals to her collection, including team and all-around gold, vault gold, floor silver, and balance beam fifth place.
Biles is often described as one of the greatest gymnasts ever, largely because of her extraordinary difficulty, consistency, longevity, and medal record.
How Old Is Simone Biles in 2026?
Simone Biles was born on March 14, 1997, making her 29 years old in 2026. USA Gymnastics confirms her birth date and birthplace as Columbus, Ohio.
Her age is significant because elite women’s gymnastics has traditionally been associated with very young competitors. Biles has challenged that expectation by continuing to compete at the highest level well into her 20s.
Her longevity has become one of the most interesting parts of her career. She returned to major competition after taking time away following both the 2016 and 2020 Olympics, eventually winning more major titles and returning to the Olympic stage in Paris.
Where Did Simone Biles Grow Up?
Although Biles was born in Columbus, Ohio, she grew up in Spring, Texas, in the Houston area.
Her childhood was shaped by her family and gymnastics. USA Gymnastics lists Ronald and Nellie Biles as her parents or guardians and identifies Ronald II, Adam, and Adria as her siblings. The organization also records that Biles was homeschooled and graduated from high school in 2015.
Her introduction to gymnastics happened almost by accident. During a daycare field trip, she watched gymnasts and began copying their movements. A coach noticed her ability and the gym later contacted her family about getting involved in gymnastics.
That simple childhood experience eventually became the beginning of an international sports career.
When Did Simone Biles Start Gymnastics?
Biles started gymnastics in 2003, when she was about 6 years old. Her natural athletic ability quickly became apparent, but reaching the elite level required years of demanding training.
By 2013, she had established herself as a major force in American gymnastics. That year, she won the U.S. all-around title and became a World Championship all-around champion.
From there, her career accelerated rapidly.
Simone Biles’ Rise to Olympic Stardom
The 2016 Rio Olympics transformed Biles from a gymnastics superstar into a global sports icon.
At Rio, she won four gold medals in the team competition, individual all-around, vault, and floor exercise. She also earned a bronze medal on balance beam. USA Gymnastics notes that her four gold medals tied the Olympic record for a female gymnast at a single Games.
She was only 19 years old.
Her performances included difficult skills that became closely associated with her name, and her powerful tumbling and vaulting helped separate her from many competitors.
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How Many Olympic Medals Does Simone Biles Have?
As of 2026, Simone Biles has 11 Olympic medals, including seven Olympic gold medals. USA Gymnastics identifies both totals as U.S. gymnastics records.
Her Olympic medal history includes:
| Olympic Games | Medals |
| Rio 2016 | 4 gold, 1 bronze |
| Tokyo 2020 | 1 silver, 1 bronze |
| Paris 2024 | 3 gold, 1 silver |
| Total | 7 gold, 1 silver, 3 bronze |
At the Paris Olympics, Biles helped the U.S. women win team gold and then won the individual all-around and vault titles. She also earned silver in floor exercise.
Her 2024 Olympic comeback was particularly significant because it followed her decision to step away from most events at the Tokyo Games.
What Happened to Simone Biles at the Tokyo Olympics?
The 2020 Tokyo Olympics, held in 2021 because of the COVID-19 pandemic, became one of the most important chapters of Biles’ career for a reason that had little to do with winning gold.
During the competition, Biles withdrew from several events after experiencing a dangerous mental and physical disconnect commonly described as the “twisties.”
The condition can cause gymnasts to lose their sense of spatial awareness while performing twisting skills. For a sport involving flips and rotations at high speed, that can create serious safety risks.
Biles chose to prioritize her health and safety. She later returned to compete on balance beam and won a bronze medal. USA Gymnastics documented her decision as part of a broader conversation about athlete mental health and well-being.
Her decision became one of the most widely discussed moments of the Tokyo Olympics.
Why Is Simone Biles So Famous?
Biles’ fame comes from more than Olympic medals.
She has combined extraordinary athletic ability with a long list of records. According to USA Gymnastics, she has won 30 World Championship medals, including 23 gold medals, more than any gymnast in World Championship history. She has also won six World all-around titles.
She has also made history through the difficulty of her routines. Several gymnastics skills have been named after her because she was the first woman to successfully perform them in major international competition.
That means her influence isn’t limited to winning competitions. She has helped change what judges, coaches, athletes, and fans consider possible in women’s gymnastics.
What Are Simone Biles’ Biggest Career Achievements?
Some of Biles’ most important achievements include:
- 11 Olympic medals
- 7 Olympic gold medals
- 30 World Championship medals
- 23 World Championship gold medals
- Nine U.S. all-around championships
- Six World all-around titles
- Four Olympic gold medals at the 2016 Rio Games
- Olympic all-around gold medals in both 2016 and 2024
- Multiple gymnastics skills officially carrying her name
- The most U.S. gymnastics titles in history, according to USA Gymnastics
Her 2024 Paris performance was particularly impressive because she returned to Olympic competition after a difficult Tokyo experience and once again won the Olympic all-around title.
Is Simone Biles Married?
Yes. Simone Biles is married to NFL player Jonathan Owens.
The couple began dating in 2020 after meeting through the dating app Raya. They married in April 2023 in a courthouse ceremony and later celebrated with a larger wedding in Cabo San Lucas.
Owens has played professional football in the NFL, including time with the Houston Texans, Green Bay Packers, and Chicago Bears. In 2026, he signed with the Indianapolis Colts. Biles has continued to support him publicly during his football career.
Their relationship has attracted attention partly because both are professional athletes competing at the highest level in very different sports.
Do Simone Biles and Jonathan Owens Have Children?
As of 2026, there is no confirmed report that Biles and Owens have children.
The couple has publicly discussed having a family in the future, but plans for children should not be confused with an announcement that they currently have children.
What Is Simone Biles’ Net Worth?
There is no officially confirmed public figure for Simone Biles’ exact net worth.
Celebrity net worth websites often publish estimates, but these figures shouldn’t be treated as verified financial records. A more useful way to understand her wealth is to look at her documented earnings and business partnerships.
Forbes estimated that Biles earned approximately $7.1 million in 2023, with about $7 million coming from endorsements and other off-the-field income.
Her commercial partnerships have included major brands such as Athleta, Visa, United Airlines, GK Elite, and others over the course of her career. Forbes also reported that Biles was the only gymnast included among its 20 highest-paid female athletes for 2023.
Because sponsorship contracts, investments, taxes, expenses, and private assets aren’t fully public, an exact net worth can’t be reliably established from public information.
How Does Simone Biles Make Money?
Biles’ income has come from several areas rather than gymnastics prize money alone.
Major sources have included:
- Brand endorsements
- Sponsorship partnerships
- Appearances
- Gymnastics-related income
- Business and licensing opportunities
- Media and entertainment projects
Endorsements are especially important because elite gymnastics doesn’t provide the same type of regular professional salary structure found in sports such as the NFL or NBA.
Forbes estimated that Biles earned roughly $7 million from endorsements in 2023, illustrating how valuable her global profile has become to brands.
What Did Simone Biles Do After the 2024 Olympics?
After the Paris Olympics, Biles remained active in public life, business, entertainment, and sports-related appearances.
In 2025, she served as Grand Marshal of the Kentucky Derby, becoming the first gymnast to hold that role.
She also received continued recognition for her influence beyond gymnastics. Forbes reported that she received a 2025 TIME100 Impact Award, while the Laureus World Sports Awards also honored Biles in 2025.
These appearances reflect how Biles’ career has expanded beyond competition. She has become a recognizable figure in sports, fashion, entertainment, business, and conversations about athlete well-being.
Is Simone Biles Coming Back for the 2028 Olympics?
Biles has not confirmed a return to competitive gymnastics for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
At the same time, she has not completely closed the door. Reports in 2025 noted that she remained undecided about competing in Los Angeles.
That uncertainty is understandable. Olympic gymnastics requires intense preparation, and Biles has already achieved an extraordinary career.
For now, the most accurate answer is that her 2028 plans remain a personal decision and have not been officially confirmed.
What Makes Simone Biles Different From Other Gymnasts?
Biles’ uniqueness comes from a combination of difficulty, power, consistency, longevity, and competitive success.
She isn’t simply a gymnast who has won many medals. Her routines have often contained skills that few other gymnasts attempt because of their technical difficulty.
Her career also stands out because she has successfully returned after major breaks from competition.
After Rio, she took time away and returned to win more World Championship titles. After Tokyo, she again stepped away, eventually returning in 2023 and winning the World all-around title that year before capturing another Olympic all-around gold in Paris in 2024.
What Are the Most Interesting Facts About Simone Biles?
Here are several quick facts that help explain her unusual career:
- Birth date: March 14, 1997
- Birthplace: Columbus, Ohio
- Hometown: Spring, Texas
- Age in 2026: 29
- Sport: Artistic gymnastics
- Olympic appearances: 2016, 2020, 2024
- Olympic medals: 11
- Olympic gold medals: 7
- World Championship medals: 30
- World Championship gold medals: 23
- U.S. all-around titles: 9
- Husband: Jonathan Owens
- Marriage: 2023
- High school: Homeschooled
- Started gymnastics: 2003
Frequently Asked Questions About Simone Biles
How old is Simone Biles?
Simone Biles is 29 years old in 2026. She was born on March 14, 1997, in Columbus, Ohio.
How many Olympic gold medals does Simone Biles have?
Simone Biles has won seven Olympic gold medals. She won four at the 2016 Rio Olympics and three at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
How many medals does Simone Biles have?
As of 2026, Biles has 41 Olympic and World Championship medals combined, including 11 Olympic medals and 30 World Championship medals.
Who is Simone Biles’ husband?
Her husband is Jonathan Owens, an NFL safety. They married in 2023 after beginning their relationship in 2020.
Where does Simone Biles live?
Biles has homes in Texas and has also been spending time supporting Owens during his NFL career. In 2026, reports indicated that the couple planned to spend the NFL season in Indianapolis following Owens’ move to the Colts.
Is Simone Biles retired?
Biles has not publicly confirmed a permanent retirement from gymnastics. She has remained undecided about competing at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
What is Simone Biles’ net worth?
Her exact net worth isn’t publicly verified. Forbes estimated that she earned about $7.1 million in 2023, with the vast majority coming from endorsements and other off-field income.
What happened to Simone Biles in Tokyo?
During the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, Biles experienced the “twisties,” a loss of spatial awareness during twisting skills. She withdrew from several events to protect her safety and later returned to win a bronze medal on balance beam.
Final Thoughts
Simone Biles’ career is no longer defined only by the number of medals around her neck. Her record-breaking performances have changed the technical limits of gymnastics, while her decision to prioritize her safety in Tokyo helped bring athlete mental health into a much larger public conversation.
Her 2024 Paris comeback added another remarkable chapter, giving her 11 Olympic medals and seven Olympic golds. USA Gymnastics also recognizes her 30 World Championship medals and 23 World gold medals as records in the sport.
Whether Biles ultimately competes again in Los Angeles or chooses a different path, her influence on gymnastics is already firmly established. In 2026, she remains a rare athlete whose accomplishments on the floor and impact away from it have become equally important parts of her story.
