Simone Biles: I am who I am today because of foster care

The multiple Olympic champion gymnast attended the Los Angeles premiere of the second installment of her Netflix documentary

In a year that saw her win three more Olympic golds and a silver at the Paris Games, Simone Biles attended the Los Angeles premiere of the second part of her Netflix documentary series, ‘Simone Biles: Rising’.

The gymnast, who also donated $50,000 at the ‘Friends of Children’ gala – a non-profit organization that provides mentors for children facing adversity – spoke about her childhood in foster care. “It’s very important to me because I can see myself reflected in these kids and see what they go through and what allows them to grow,” Biles told USA TODAY Sports. “Sometimes the statistics can be against you, but having someone like me advocate for these kids and knowing that I went through some of the same situations that they went through and came out on top really inspires them.”

In this regard, Biles, who spent three years in foster care before she turned six while her biological mother, Shannon, struggled with drugs and alcohol, said, “I am who I am today because of foster care. And I want the kids to appreciate that too and remember that and that they can do anything. It doesn’t matter.”

Simone Biles, on Jordan Chiles’ appeal

Biles’ Netflix documentary also revealed footage that could help her teammate, Jordan Chiles, retain her bronze medal in floor exercise at the Paris Games. Chiles filed an appeal with CAS in hopes of resolving a dispute over whether the scoring research she submitted was done after the 60-second deadline. The CAS ruled that it was submitted late, but footage from the documentary appears to show that the inquiry was submitted on time, which may give Chiles an avenue to appeal.