Simone Biles’ birth mother, Shanon Biles, spoke out in a Tuesday interview with the Daily Mail and expressed her hope that the gymnast would forgive her for her past. Her mother’s substance abuse and drug addiction led to the placement of Biles and her siblings in foster care. The gymnast’s maternal grandfather, Ronald, and his wife, Nellie Cayetano Biles, took care of the children and later adopted them. Shanon shared with the news outlet that she’s now clean and sober and works at a grocery store in Ohio.
“I want her to reach out to me. She’s 27 now. She’s married. I would have liked to have been a part of that, but I just have to wait for her,” she said. “You can’t push anybody. It hasn’t happened yet, but I have patience. I’m waiting on her.”
“I would like to make amends with Simone personally,” Shanon added.
There is no update on whether Biles is interested in making amends with her biological mother.