Simone Biles has never been shy about where she came from, but her latest Instagram Story hit a different chord. On Sunday, October 25, the Olympic champion shared lyrics from Toosii’s“Lil Terrio”along with her own reflection:“We’ve come a long way”and“Just a foster kid trying to beat the statistics.”The post didn’t come with an interview or a big announcement, just a quiet moment of honesty that quickly made the rounds.
Biles spent three years in foster care before her maternal grandparents, Ronald and Nellie Biles, adopted her and her younger sister Adria when Simone was six years old. Her older siblings, Ashley and Tevin, were adopted by their great-aunt. She has spoken before about her biological mother’s struggles with drug and alcohol abuse, opening up about that chapter on Dancing with the Stars back in 2017 and in her memoir“Courage to Soar.”
The post didn’t specify which statistics she was referencing, but her point came through loud and clear. For kids in the foster care system, hearing one of the most recognizable athletes in the world own her story out loud can mean everything. What part of Biles’journey resonates most with you? Let us know in the comments.
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Local Lawton
Local Lawton is a contributor to LocalBeat, covering local news and community stories.