Facts are facts: Simone Biles is the most decorated gymnast in the world. But fans were wondering why her husband, Jonathan Owens, hasn’t been at the Paris Olympics to support her, considering it’s the largest on the gymnastics stage.
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Biles and Owens were engaged in February 2022 and tied the knot in April 2023. Owens is also an athlete—he played football for his high school, Christian Brothers College, and in college at Missouri State University. Then in 2018, he was recruited by the National Football League and signed with the Arizona Cardinals, and later transferred to the Chicago Bears.
He more than most would understand the pressures of being a professional athlete and of course, the importance of familial support. So why hasn’t Owens been at the Olympics to cheer on Simone?
Why Simone Biles’ husband Jonathan Owens isn’t at the Olympics?
Initially, his NFL training schedule wouldn’t allow for him to travel—the football season kicks off on September 5, after all. But he managed to negotiate some time off from the Bears’ training camp to cheer on Simone, flying out on July 29, 2024.
“Just seeing that work and seeing her go to practice every day … some days you don’t feel like getting up, but she just pushed through it, so it’s gonna be an emotional time for everybody—us and all her family. But I know all the hard work that she puts in. I can’t wait to go out and just watch her and watch all of her dreams come true,” he told Chicagobears.com.
“It’s an amazing feeling that they support me doing that for the person that I love most,” Owens said. “That was a big part of me feeling good and me feeling wanted here. All the coaches are coming up to me, asking when I’m gonna leave and saying they’re gonna be watching and making sure that I won’t miss a beat while I’m here.”
Simone was “ecstatic” that her husband could join Rod and Nellie in the crowd on July 30. “That was just a big thing for me. I really wanted to show that support just because of how supportive she was for me last season when I was in Green Bay,” he continued.
“She was traveling almost every weekend to come see me even though she was training Monday through Saturday. She would leave practice Saturday, go straight to the airport, get a connecting flight to Green Bay, go to the game Sunday, and leave Monday morning to go back to practice.”
Owens added, “I’m acting like I’m at a football game. I’m sure the people behind me are like, ‘Oh my gosh.’ Because usually, gymnastics etiquette is just a little soft clap. But, yeah, me and her sister were always the loudest ones in there.”
