Simone Biles Shared First Photos from Her Wedding Two Years After Her Mental Health Struggles During the Tokyo Olympics

• Simone Biles got married!
• The gymnast shared tender pictures with her lover.
• Despite her success and her new family, she faced difficult times as a child because of her biological mother.

Artistic gymnast Simone Biles and her beau Jonathan Owens met on a dating app called Raya in March 2020, but the two initially had their first close encounter during a Texan game back in 2019.

Biles made the first move by texting the football safety who plays for the Houston Texans. Months later, the pair confirmed their relationship on Instagram in August 2020.

She posted two pictures of the duo cozied up with each other, including one where Owens kissed her. "It's just us," Biles wrote at the time.

In a July 2021 interview, Biles described how they met, saying she sent him a private message. When she saw him, she found him attractive and decided to greet him. After learning Owens was living in the same area, they started communicating, and a week or two later, they hung out together.

Despite her being the most decorated gymnast of all time, Owens admitted he did not know who she was. After telling her that, she was impressed.

Owens, who had never watched gymnastics before meeting his love, revealed the seven-time Olympic medalist's "work ethic" is what drew him to her.

The football star further explained that it was fascinating to see the athlete at the height of her sporting career, adding it inspired him to witness the impact Biles has had on others.

Meanwhile, his romance with Biles developed at a gradual pace until her sister stepped in by deciding to give them a nudge to speed things along. She invited him to join them on their trip.

After that experience, the NFL star and Biles began to spend more time together, and they bonded even more amid the pandemic.

In June 2021, Owens stated during the lockdown period, there was nothing much going on in the Ohio native's life, so they used that window of opportunity to get to know each other better. Ultimately, they formed a connection that has remained intact ever since, something he is grateful for.

Biles Shared Beautiful Photos From Her Wedding

Owens proposed to the esteemed gymnast in February 2022. She then announced the exciting news on her social media, writing: "THE EASIEST, YES," adding she could not wait to spend the rest of her life with him while stating he is what she had always wanted.

The caption was accompanied by a series of pictures of the moment Owens popped the big question. In one snap, Owens was on his bended knee as Biles smiled from ear to ear in a black mini dress during his proposal.

Another snapshot included an up-close look at the engagement ring, an oval-shaped diamond band. For the ring, Owens asked celebrity jeweler Zo Frost for help, who then revealed the center stone of the ring is a "3-carat oval diamond" with a halo, adding that the groom-to-be chose it months prior to the engagement.

The Missouri native asked for Biles' hand in marriage under a gazebo in Houston, Texas. The engagement news came after two years of dating.

A year later, Biles, 26, announced on her Instagram page on April 22, 2023, that she and Owens, 27, finally tied the knot. "I do officially, Owens," she captioned her post alongside a gallery of photos from the couple's big day.

In the snaps, the lovebirds, who exchanged wedding vows in a courthouse ceremony, could be seen saying "I do," in front of the officiator. For the occasion, the bride stunned in a gorgeous tiered white gown, while the groom opted for a beige suit.

One image shows the newly wedded couple stepping outside the courthouse, widely smiling. There is also a snap of them kissing, walking down the staircase, and another of the pair following their nuptials in an embrace and sealing the ceremony with a kiss.

Owens shared similar pictures on his Instagram account, which included a closer look at their nuptials, and wrote, "My person, forever." Biles and Owens obtained their marriage license - issued in Montgomery County in the state of Texas - on April 15, 2023, a week before getting hitched. She shared the document online.

This exciting time for Biles comes two years after she struggled with mental health during the Tokyo Olympics in 2021. Two months after the sporting event ended, the athlete appeared on the "Today" show and revealed she had difficulty with "twisties," a mental block where competitors lose track of where they are while in midair.

She revealed she did not do twisties while on the Gold Over America tour, something which has never had any effect on her before. "But everything else weighs so heavy," Biles explained at the time, adding, "I'm still scared to do gymnastics."

Hunger, Difficult Childhood: Biles Went Through Hard Times as a Child

Despite her notable success in the gymnastics field, Biles faced hard times while growing up. According to her maternal grandmother, Nellie Biles, her mother could not care for her and her three siblings.

The sports star's mom had substance abuse issues, prompting an intervention from a social worker following complaints from neighbors.

Biles and her brothers and sisters endured hunger when living with their parent, as their mother was able to feed a cat instead of them. As a result, food became their main focus while growing up because they were not fed. Biles now cannot stand cats because of the unfortunate experience her mom put her through.

The Olympic gold medalist and her siblings were then sent to foster care, an experience she vaguely remembers. She was lucky enough to remain with her siblings instead of being separated during the process.

She and her younger sister Adria were later adopted by their maternal grandparents, Nellie and Ronald Biles, and relocated to Texas. Meanwhile, their two older siblings remained in Ohio and were adopted by their father's sister.

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