Brave Simone Biles won Olympic 2020 silver just weeks after sister was jailed for DUI

NATIONAL hero Simone Biles has bravely spoken out about her mental health issues after struggling with the weight of expectations at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

Simone, 24, has withdrawn from the individual all-round event and will not be able to defend her Olympic title after saying she wants to “protect her mind and body”.

 
Simone Biles’ older sister has been in jail on DUI charges while she’s been competing at the Olympic gamesCredit: Getty

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Ashley Biles-Thomas is being held with no bond until her August court hearingCredit: Franklin County Ohio Sheriff
The gymnast confirmed she was not physically injured, as she said: “Just a little injury to my pride. I have to focus on my mental health.”

As the gymnast, who is widely considered the Greatest of All Time in her sport, opened up about her inner battle, it emerged she has also been dealing with family heartache.

Her sister, Ashley Biles-Thomas, was arrested just weeks before the 2020 Olympics for driving under the influence.

Simone spoke out yesterday after deciding not to compete in the team final because she felt she wasn’t mentally ready.

“I just think mental health is more prevalent in sports right now… we have to protect our minds and our bodies and not just go out and do what the world wants us to do,” she said.

“I don’t trust myself as much anymore, maybe it’s getting older. There were a couple of days when everybody tweets you and you feel the weight of the world.

“We’re not just athletes, we’re people at the end of the day and sometimes you just have to step back. It just sucks when you’re fighting with your own head.”

SISTER’S STRUGGLE

Simone’s older sister is facing hardship of her own. Ashley, 31, is currently behind bars at Jackson Pike Jail in Columbus, Ohio on no bond.

Ashley was arrested and charged with two counts of operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol or drugs, driving with a suspended license, leaving the scene of an accident, failure to yield or stop at sign and probation violation on July 5, 2021, according to online jail records.

Court records show a warrant was issued days before her arrest on July 1.

The Olympian’s older sister was on probation from an April 18, 2019 assault arrest.

A warrant was first issued for her arrest on May 30, 2019 for missing a court hearing in the assault case.

She was later arrested for the warrant on June 6, 2019.

She pleaded guilty to the assault charge and was sentenced to 180 days in jail with 155 days suspended and two years probation.

Ashley was arrested again on February 25, 2021 for breaking probation in the case.

RadarOnline.com reported Ashley was first charged in 2014 with drug trafficking and possession after a traffic stop for unsafe driving.

According to the outlet, 90 oxycodone pills and 60 oxymorphone pills were discovered in the car.

She pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 90 days in jail with credit served.

Then in 2015, she was arrested for operating a vehicle while impaired.

She was found guilty and sentenced to three days in jail, the outlet reported.

SAD CHILDHOOD

Simone is estranged from her troubled sibling, as she and her sister Adria went to live with her grandparents in 2003.

Ashley and their brother Tevin went to live with their aunt in Ohio.

Simone’s mother Shanon was unable to care for her children, as she has battled drug and alcohol addiction, leaving her in and out of jail through the years.

Simone courageously wrote in a CNN op-ed of her tough upbringing: “My birth mother suffered from drug addiction, and when I was just 3 years old, my siblings and I were removed from her custody.

“From there, we bounced around until I was 6 and my grandparents made the brave move to adopt us.”

SIMONE’S BRAVE BATTLE

Simone shocked the world on Tuesday when she withdrew from the women’s team gymnastics final for mental health reasons.

Simone told NBC: “Physically, I feel good, I’m in shape. Emotionally, that kind of varies on the time and moment. Coming to the Olympics and being head star isn’t an easy feat, so we’re just trying to take it one day at a time and we’ll see. We’re gonna take it day by day, and we’re just gonna see.

“I’m OK, just super frustrated of how the night, but super proud of these girls and now we’re silver medalists. Something we’ll cherish forever. We hope America still loves us.”

Simone received the silver medal for the team final.