Simone Biles, the Houston-area gymnastics icon, told fans Saturday that she was hospitalized earlier this week and said she "almost died." The 29-year-old said she has been resting at home with her dogs while she recovers. She did not disclose the medical cause and told followers she would "explain sooner or later."
Biles shared a photo on her Instagram story showing multiple hospital wristbands and thanked friends and family who checked on her during her recovery. "I'm not one to normally share things like this because I value privacy in today's age," she wrote, adding that "almost dying wasn't on my bingo card earlier this week." The posts were reported by the Houston Chronicle.
What She Said
Biles called the ordeal "one of, if not the scariest experiences of my life" and said it was especially frightening because her husband, NFL safety Jonathan Owens, was in Indianapolis for practices at the time. She said she has "been in bed resting this week" and would share more when she can, according to Parade. For now, she has asked for privacy while she recovers.
Houston Roots And Record
A Spring, Texas native, Biles remains one of the city's most famous athletes and a frequent local presence. The 11-time Olympic medalist most recently competed at the 2024 Paris Olympics, adding to a career that has continually put Houston in the spotlight, as reported by the Houston Chronicle.
Backstory
Biles' very public pause at the Tokyo Games in 2021 after experiencing the so-called "twisties" - a loss of spatial awareness that can be dangerous - reshaped how fans and sports figures talk about mental health in elite competition. That episode, and her subsequent return at Paris, made her advocacy for athletes' wellbeing a defining part of her career, per reporting by the Los Angeles Times.
For now, messages of support have poured in from fans and peers while Biles continues to recover. She thanked her close circle in her posts and said she will explain more when she's ready.
