When people talk about Simone Biles, they talk about gold medals, world records, and an amazing sports career. But behind every great person is a family with its own story. Ashley Biles Thomas is Simone Biles’ older sister, and her life tells a very different but equally important story. It is a story about a difficult childhood, tough choices, family bonds, and survival.
Quick Bio
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Ashley Biles Thomas |
| Date of Birth | February 15, 1990 |
| Age | Around 34 years old (as of 2024) |
| Place of Birth | Columbus, Ohio, USA |
| Nationality | American |
| Famous For | Being Simone Biles’ older sister |
| Mother | Shanon Biles |
| Siblings | Tevin Biles-Thomas, Simone Biles, Adria Biles |
| Raised By | Great-aunt Harriet (Ronald Biles’ sister) |
| Current Location | Columbus, Ohio, USA |
| Children | At least one daughter; also mother of triplets |
| Relationship Status | Not publicly known |
| Net Worth | Not publicly known |
| Occupation | Not publicly known |
Who Is Ashley Biles Thomas?
Ashley Biles Thomas is the older sister of Simone Biles. Ashley is seven years older than Simone and lives in Ohio. While Simone became one of the most famous athletes in the world, Ashley has lived a quiet, private life away from the spotlight.
Ashley is not a public figure in the traditional sense. She does not appear on TV or give interviews. But because of her famous sister, people are curious about her life, her childhood, and what she is doing today.
Early Life and Childhood
Ashley was born into a family that faced many difficult problems from the very beginning. Their mother, Shanon Biles, struggled with drinking and drugs for years. When Simone was born on March 14, 1997, Ashley had just turned seven, and her brother Tevin was almost three. Two years later, on January 27, 1999, little sister Adria was born. By then, life with Shanon had become very difficult.
In 1999 or 2000, concerned neighbors contacted social services. The four siblings were put into foster care, though they were luckily kept together at first.
This was a very hard time for all the children. They were young, confused, and away from their mother. However, their story was not over. Help was coming from the family.
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Being Separated from Simone
One of the saddest parts of Ashley’s story is the moment the family was split apart. While Ron Biles adopted the two youngest, Simone and Adria, his sister Harriet adopted the older two, Ashley and Tevin, and raised them in Cleveland.
Ashley and Tevin were adopted by their great aunt in Cleveland. Ashley would have been about 13 at this time. The older siblings had wanted to remain in Ohio rather than move to Texas.
So at a young age, Ashley was separated from her two younger sisters. Simone and Adria moved to Texas with their grandparents, while Ashley and Tevin stayed in Ohio with their great aunt Harriet. This separation shaped the rest of their lives in very different ways.
Growing Up in Cleveland
After the adoption, Ashley grew up in Cleveland, Ohio. Life was not easy. She was raised away from Simone and Adria, and the effects of her early childhood were hard to forget. Unfortunately, Ashley faced many challenges as she grew older.
In June 2014, she was arrested in Delaware County, Ohio, and charged with trafficking and possession of illegal substances. Ashley pleaded guilty to the charges and was sentenced to 90 days in prison but was released after a few days and put on probation.
Ashley pleaded guilty to drug trafficking in 2015, a charge stemming from a 2014 traffic stop. She, along with her then boyfriend and a cousin, had pills of oxycodone and oxymorphone on them. She was sentenced to four years of probation and three months in jail, though she was released after three days.
These were serious problems. But it is important to remember that Ashley’s difficult start in life, growing up without a stable home or mother, played a big role in the challenges she faced later.
More Legal Problems Over the Years
Ashley’s troubles with the law did not end there. Over the next few years, she was involved in more legal cases.
Ashley pleaded guilty to assault in 2019 and was put on probation. The court record suggests she was fined 1000 dollars and that the jail sentence was suspended. She was placed on probation for two years.
The last time she was arrested was in July 2021, just weeks before the Tokyo Olympics where her sister Simone competed. She was charged with two counts of driving under the influence, driving with a suspended license, leaving the scene of an accident, refusing to yield or stop at a sign, and violating the terms of her probation.
These events were reported widely in the media because of the timing. Simone was about to compete at the Olympics, and many news outlets brought Ashley’s situation into the spotlight. It was not a happy time for the family.
Ashley as a Mother
Despite all the difficulties in her life, Ashley is also a mother. Reports say that she had a daughter who was 7 years old in 2016. That means her daughter is now a teenager.
In May 2020, Ashley shared a post honoring the late father of her triplets, writing that she missed him very much. This shows that Ashley has experienced deep personal loss as well. She is raising children while dealing with her own life struggles, which is not easy for anyone.
Being a mother is a big responsibility, and Ashley is doing her best in a life that has had many obstacles.
Her Relationship with Simone Biles
People often wonder how close Ashley and Simone are. The truth is, their relationship is not very public and seems to be a little distant, perhaps because they were separated at a young age and grew up in very different environments.
Out of all her siblings, Simone seems to be least close with Ashley. While Simone has shown affection for Tevin on social media on several occasions, she rarely mentions her oldest sister. But she does seem to have fond memories of Ashley from childhood, describing how Ashley played a mother like role in her life. As the oldest, Ashley helped out with Adria and Simone, getting them dressed, playing with them, and helping them sleep at night.
This is a beautiful detail. Even though Ashley had her own struggles, she still tried to take care of her younger siblings when they were all little children together.
In April 2021, Ashley showed her support for Simone with a social media post, calling her the real G.O.A.T.
So even if they are not close in the way some sisters are, there is still love between them.
Ashley vs Simone Two Very Different Lives
It is interesting to compare the lives of these two sisters. They were born to the same mother, spent their early years together, and both experienced the pain of foster care and family separation. But their paths after that went in completely different directions.
Simone moved to Texas, was adopted by loving grandparents, discovered gymnastics, and went on to become one of the greatest gymnasts in history. Ashley stayed in Ohio, faced legal problems, and has lived a much harder life.
This shows how much environment, support, and opportunity can change a person’s story. Simone had a strong support system in her grandparents. Ashley did not have the same level of stability. That does not make one sister better or worse. It simply shows that life is shaped by the chances we get and the help we receive.
What Is Ashley Doing Now
Ashley Biles Thomas currently lives in Columbus, Ohio. There is no known source of income publicly available. She keeps a very low profile and does not share much about her life on social media.
Based on her activity online, she is a mother who loves her children. She has shown pride in her famous sister from time to time. She continues to live in Ohio, away from the big cameras and public attention that follow Simone everywhere.
Ashley’s Siblings A Quick Look
To understand Ashley’s story better, it helps to know a little about her other siblings
Tevin Biles Thomas is Ashley’s younger brother. Like Ashley, he was adopted by their great aunt and raised in Ohio. Tevin is a US Army officer. He was arrested in August 2019 and charged with serious crimes but was later found not guilty due to lack of evidence.
Simone Biles needs no big introduction. She is the most decorated gymnast in history and a global icon.
Adria Biles is the youngest biological sibling. Like her sister, Adria took up gymnastics when she was young. She later chose a different path and studied dentistry with plans to specialize in hygiene.
Why Ashley’s Story Matters
Ashley Biles Thomas is not famous for winning medals or performing on a big stage. But her story matters just as much as her sister’s. Her life shows what can happen to children who grow up without stable homes, without enough support, and without enough help from society.
Many children around the world share Ashley’s experience. They grow up in foster care, get separated from their siblings, and face a world that is not always kind or fair. Ashley’s story should make us think about how we support vulnerable children and families.
At the same time, Ashley is not only defined by her struggles. She is a mother, a sister, and a person who has survived a very difficult life. She has loved her children and been proud of her sister, even from a distance.
Final Thoughts
Ashley Biles Thomas is a real person with a real story. She did not grow up under bright gym lights or stand on a podium to receive gold medals. She grew up in a broken home, was placed in foster care, was separated from her sisters, and has had to fight through many challenges in her adult life.
But through all of it, she has remained a mother and a sister. She has cheered for Simone even from a distance. And she continues to live her life, one day at a time.
The world may know Simone Biles as the greatest gymnast of all time, but behind that champion is a family with a complex and deeply human story. Ashley Biles Thomas is a part of that story, and her life deserves to be understood with kindness and without judgment.
10 Frequently Asked Questions About Ashley Biles Thomas
1. Who is Ashley Biles Thomas? Ashley Biles Thomas is the older biological sister of world-famous Olympic gymnast Simone Biles. She was born in 1990 in Columbus, Ohio, and grew up in Cleveland after being adopted by her great-aunt Harriet.
2. How old is Ashley Biles Thomas? Ashley was born on February 15, 1990, which makes her around 34 years old as of 2024. She is seven years older than Simone Biles.
3. Where does Ashley Biles Thomas live? Ashley currently lives in Columbus, Ohio, USA, based on public records and online information.
4. Why were Ashley and Simone separated? Their mother Shanon struggled with drug and alcohol addiction and was unable to care for her children. All four siblings were placed in foster care. Later, Simone and Adria were adopted by their grandfather Ron Biles and moved to Texas, while Ashley and Tevin stayed in Ohio with great-aunt Harriet.
5. Does Ashley Biles Thomas have children? Yes. Ashley is a mother of at least one daughter and also has triplets. The father of her triplets passed away, and she shared a touching tribute to him on Facebook in 2020.
6. What is Ashley Biles Thomas’ relationship with Simone Biles like? Their relationship is not very public. They were separated in childhood and grew up in different states. However, Ashley has expressed pride in Simone on social media, calling her “the real G.O.A.T.”
7. Has Ashley Biles Thomas been in trouble with the law? Yes. Ashley has had several legal issues over the years, including drug trafficking charges in 2014, an assault case in 2019, and a DUI arrest in July 2021 shortly before the Tokyo Olympics.
8. What is Ashley Biles Thomas’ job? Her occupation is not publicly known. She keeps a very private life and has not shared details about her work with the media.
9. How many siblings does Simone Biles have in total? Simone has three biological siblings: Ashley Biles Thomas (older sister), Tevin Biles-Thomas (older brother), and Adria Biles (younger sister). She also has half-siblings from her adoptive family.
10. Is Ashley Biles Thomas on social media? Ashley has a Facebook account but keeps it mostly private. She does not appear to be active on other major platforms and generally stays away from public attention.
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