Simone Biles Covers Vanity Fair’s February Issue; Talks Marriage, Mental Health, and the Paris Olympics

Pin

In a new cover story for VANITY FAIR’s February issue, Simone Biles sits down with contributing editor, Leah Faye Cooper, to discuss the highs and lows of her gymnastics career, dealing with criticism and mental health, her marriage to Jonathan Owens, and whether she sees a return to the Olympics in her future.

Pin

…On her early career goals: “I just wanted to try college gymnastics”

“I just wanted to try to do college gymnastics,” Biles says, but everything changed after she watched Gabby Douglas, McKayla Maroney, Aly Raisman, Kyla Ross, and Jordyn Wieber dominate at the 2012 Olympics in London. “I saw those girls and I was like, I’m going to the same camps they’re going to; maybe I could do that.”

…On the pressures of fame: “I just get a little flustered. My anxiety kicks in”

Biles tells Vanity Fair, the rise to fame has been exciting, intense, and a bit disorienting. “I think everyone wants to be famous, and then when it happens, you almost hit a wall and you have an identity crisis. You’re like, Am I made out for this? Why did I wish for this?” She adds, “I’m not saying that [people] scream and line up like I’m Taylor Swift, [but] I still get a lot of attention. When five people come up to me and they’re rushing for a photo, I just get a little flustered. My anxiety kicks in.”

…On her foray back into gymnastics and speaking out about mental health

“I wish I could sit here and tell you it was glorious,” Biles says of her time off following the Tokyo Olympics. “When I took a break after 2016, I had the time of my life. I was doing anything and everything. But after 2020, it was kind of depressing until I started therapy and got help. I felt like a failure. Even though I was empowering so many people and speaking out about mental health, every time I talked about my experience in Tokyo—because it obviously didn’t go the way that I had planned—it stung a little bit. But all in all, it was the best decision.” Biles remains a vocal proponent of mental health care. “I’ve always been in therapy [and] I’ve always been an advocate for medicine,” she says. Years ago Biles was prescribed Lexapro for anxiety, and she continues to take the medication today.

…On the criticism she experienced and being put on a pedestal: “I was not okay with that”

On the scathing criticism she received, Biles says, “Of course you have all the assholes that are like, ‘You’re a quitter,’ and they just ran with that.” As pundits and trolls declared that the Olympian had selfishly let her country down, others “tried to put me on this pedestal as a mental health advocate,” she tells Vanity Fair. “I was not okay with that. If I can be a lending hand and help people, then I’ll be open, honest, and vulnerable,” she continues, “but you cannot stick me in front of a crowd and say, ‘Do everything she’s doing.’ ”

Biles met husband Jonathan Owens on Raya; He “had no clue” she was a world famous gymnast

“I had just broken up [with someone] and my friend was like, ‘Get on Raya, get on Raya,’ ” Biles tells Vanity Fair. “My guard went straight up when she said dating site.” But she matched with Jonathan Owens her first week on the app. “The second week I met him in person, and the rest is history. We were hooked,” Biles tells Vanity Fair.

Owens adds: “She doesn’t like to admit it, but she messaged me first.” On whether he knew he was falling for the greatest gymnast of all time? “A lot of people don’t believe me when I say I had no clue,” Owens tells Vanity Fair.

Biles wishes she could spend more time with husband, Jonathan Owens

“If I’m going to be honest, obviously he’s very fine,” Biles says of her initial attraction to Owens. “[But] besides his looks, he was so sweet and kind, and I think what I liked about him was his confidence. He truly believes he’s the best at everything,” she says, clearly amused. “I’ve never had so much fun in my life,” Biles says of their wedding. “I was 19 when I won my first Olympics, and I was like, How am I supposed to top this? My wedding topped it. It was the greatest feeling ever.” After the wedding, Owens flew to Green Bay to officially join the Packers. “I cried a lot,” Biles said, adding that while she knows they can handle the distance, she wishes she could spend more time with her husband. “We’re both so busy, so it’s not like I’m sitting [around] waiting for him to come home, but it’s just hard.”

…On planning a return for the Paris Olympics: “If I don’t […] it won’t absolutely crush me”

“If I don’t make it to Paris, it won’t absolutely crush me,” she tells Vanity Fair. So nothing definitive? “Correct,” says Biles.

[Photo Credit: Adrienne Racquel/Vanity Fair Magazine]

• Editorials
• Magazines
• Simone Biles
• Vanity Fair