Starring on her first Vanity Fair cover, Simone Biles opened up about her career, return to gymnastics, and new marriage to Jonathan Owens.
At just 26 years old, Simone Biles has broken a series of records and originated gymnastics maneuvers others dare not attempt.
Recently returned to the sport after a self-imposed hiatus, Biles took a break from her rigorous training to star on the cover of Vanity Fair’s latest issue and reflect on her journey thus far.
In recent months, Biles has made headlines, not only for her presumed return to the Olympic stage but her love life.
In April 2023, Biles married NFL safety Jonathan Owens in a courthouse ceremony and subsequent celebration in Cabo, Mexico in May. Despite their headline-making destination wedding, recent interest has turned to the couple’s “meet-cute” story following Owens’ appearance on “The Pivot” podcast.
“So literally, [I] had been on [private networking app Raya] for a couple of days, man, and it’s like she pops up, and I’m like, ‘Let me see who this is’ … I had never really paid attention to gymnastics, so it piqued my curiosity,” said Owens on the podcast.
Due to mass disbelief that Owens did not know who Biles was before dating her, the clip went viral, becoming the centerpiece of social media debates. In her interview, both Biles and Owens shared more details about their relationship and how they manage a long-distance marriage.
“I had just broken up [with someone], and my friend was like, ‘Get on Raya, get on Raya.’ My guard went straight up when she said dating site,” Biles told Vanity Fair, revealing that she and Owens matched within her first week on the app. “The second week, I met him in person, and the rest is history. We were hooked.”
“If I’m going to be honest, obviously he’s very fine, [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 added. “I’ve never had so much fun in my life. 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.”