Simone Biles' Birth Mother Wants You To Know This

Olympic gold medalist Simone Biles has been turning heads in her Olympic debut in Rio. The young gymnast has dominated in her events, proving that she's a force to be reckoned with. Biles' childhood isn't a secret to most at this point. When she and her sister were younger, they were adopted by her grandfather, Ronald Biles, who raised the girls with his wife Nellie. And even though Biles' birth mother, Shanon, hasn't been able to be very present in her daughters' upbringing, Shanon Biles wants everyone to know she's very proud of her daughter's accomplishments in gymnastics.

Biles and her sister were placed in foster care when they were young due to their mother's struggles with substance abuse, according to Essence. The two were adopted by their grandfather in 2000, and their mother said in her video interview that she has been sober since 2007.

Biles' mother shared in her interview, "I was struggling back then but I've gotten better. Life goes on. That's my past." However, she also spoke to how proud she is of her daughter Simone's accomplishments thus far, stating, "I've been following her for years. I'm so proud, I mean I'm just proud. I'm ecstatic, I'm speechless."

Biles' mother shared with Daily Mail how difficult it was to give up her daughters, but noted that it was the most important thing to do: "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." Biles' mother also talked about how much she is supportive and excited for her daughter, especially given how far Simone has come as an athlete and Olympic competitor. She also shared how, though the two don't talk every day, they talk whenever possible.

Shanon told Daily Mail, "I'm able to speak with her whenever I can, you know she's very, very busy. ... I can always pick up the phone and call her but she's doing her, so I just want her to stay focused." Even so, when they are able to talk, Biles' mother says, "When I talk to Simone, it’s a brief conversation, like, 'I miss you, I love you, I can’t wait to see you, I’m proud of you, I’m watching. You go girl,'" according to Daily Mail. She added, "It's never anything personal. I want to tell her what really happened when I was younger but I keep on waiting for the right time."

On her struggles with substances, Biles' mother told Daily Mail, "I've come a long way. I've struggled but I've made it through the storm." She also said she hopes to reconnect with her children and build a stronger relationship.