When people hear the name Biles, they usually think of Simone Biles, the famous Olympic gymnast. But Simone has an older sister named Ashley Biles Thomas, whose life story is very different. Ashley’s life has been full of challenges and difficult choices. Let’s learn about her story.
Personal Info
| Full Name | Ashley Biles Thomas |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | February 15, 1990 |
| Age | 35 years old (as of 2025) |
| Birthplace | Columbus, Ohio, USA |
| Height | 5 feet 2 inches |
| Famous For | Being Simone Biles’ older sister |
| Parents | Shanon Biles (mother), father’s name not public |
| Siblings | Tevin, Simone, Adria (biological siblings) |
| Children | Multiple children including triplets |
| Current Residence | Columbus, Ohio |
Early Life and Childhood Struggles
Ashley Biles Thomas was born in 1990 in Columbus, Ohio. She is seven years older than her famous sister Simone. Her early years were difficult. Her mother, Shanon Biles, struggled with drugs and alcohol, making it hard to care for her children.
When Ashley was around nine or ten, child services removed her and her siblings from their mother’s care. The four children—Ashley, Tevin, Simone, and Adria—were placed in foster care together. As the oldest child, Ashley helped care for her younger siblings. She dressed them, played with them, and helped them sleep at night, taking on much responsibility despite being just a child herself.
The Family Split
In 2003, the children’s lives changed forever. Their grandfather Ron Biles and his wife Nellie adopted the two youngest sisters, Simone and Adria, taking them to live in Texas. However, Ashley and her brother Tevin stayed in Ohio. They were adopted by their great-aunt Harriet, Ron Biles’ sister. Reports suggest Ashley and Tevin chose to stay in Ohio because it felt like home to them.
This split meant the siblings grew up in different states with different families. While Simone became a world champion gymnast in Texas with stable support, Ashley’s life in Ohio took a much harder path.
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Legal Troubles and Challenges
Ashley’s adult life has been marked by several legal problems. Her first major arrest happened in 2014 when police stopped her in Delaware County, Ohio. Officers found 90 pills of oxycodone and 60 pills of oxymorphone in the car. Ashley was charged with drug trafficking and possession.
She pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 90 days in jail and four years of probation. However, she was released after just a few days and placed on probation instead.
In 2019, Ashley faced more legal issues. She was convicted of assault and fined one thousand dollars. She received two years of probation but avoided jail time when her sentence was suspended. That same year, she was also charged with drug paraphernalia possession, but that charge was later dismissed.
The most serious arrest came in July 2021, just weeks before Simone competed in the Tokyo Olympics. Ashley was arrested on July 6, 2021, for multiple charges including driving under the influence of drugs and alcohol, driving with a suspended license, leaving an accident scene, and violating probation terms.
This timing was very difficult for the family. While the world watched Simone prepare for Olympic competition, Ashley was dealing with court cases and legal problems.
Personal Life and Family
Despite her legal troubles, Ashley is a mother. In 2016, her mother Shanon mentioned that Ashley had a daughter who was seven years old at that time. Ashley later had more children, including triplets.
In 2020, Ashley posted on social media about the father of her triplets who had passed away. She wrote that she missed him very much, showing she has experienced personal loss and sadness.
Ashley keeps her personal life mostly private. She has social media accounts, but they are not very active or are set to private. Unlike Simone, who shares much of her life with fans, Ashley prefers to stay out of the spotlight.
Relationship with Simone
The relationship between Ashley and Simone is not very public. The two sisters don’t appear together in photos on social media, and they live in different states. Their bond is not as close as Simone’s relationship with her younger sister Adria.
However, Ashley has shown support for Simone on a few occasions. In April 2021, she posted a picture of Simone on Facebook, calling her “fire” and the real G.O.A.T. (Greatest Of All Time). This shows that even though they may not be close, Ashley is proud of her sister’s achievements.
Simone has also mentioned Ashley in her 2016 book “Courage to Soar.” She wrote warm memories about how Ashley helped care for her and Adria when they were young children. Simone remembered Ashley getting them dressed, playing with them, and helping them sleep.
The distance between the sisters makes sense when you consider their lives. They were separated when Simone was only six years old and grew up in different states with different families. They had very different experiences, which naturally affected their relationship.
Life Today
Today, Ashley Biles Thomas lives in Columbus, Ohio. Not much is known about what she does for work or how she supports her family. She keeps a low profile and stays away from public attention.
While Simone has become one of the most famous athletes in the world with millions of dollars in earnings, Ashley’s life remains much quieter and more private. She faces normal daily challenges along with the consequences of her past legal problems.
Understanding Ashley’s Story
Ashley’s story reminds us that not everyone in a famous family gets the same opportunities or lives the same life. While one sister became an Olympic champion, the other struggled with personal problems and legal issues.
The early trauma of being separated from their mother, spending time in foster care, and then being split from each other affected all the Biles children differently. Simone found stability and support in Texas that helped her succeed. Ashley’s path in Ohio was much more difficult.
It’s important to remember that Ashley is more than just “Simone Biles’ sister.” She is a mother, a person who has faced real struggles, and someone still working through the effects of a difficult childhood. Her story is not as glamorous as Simone’s, but it is just as real and human.
Final Thoughts
Ashley Biles Thomas’s life shows us that family stories are often complicated. The same childhood circumstances that one sibling overcomes might overwhelm another. Ashley and Simone share the same biological mother and similar early experiences, but their lives went in very different directions.
While the world celebrates Simone’s incredible achievements, Ashley’s story remains mostly hidden from public view. She continues to live her life in Ohio, away from the cameras and attention that follow her famous sister.
Both sisters came from a place of struggle and pain. Both deserve understanding and respect for their different journeys. Ashley’s story may not be easy to hear, but it’s an important reminder that every family member has their own path, their own challenges, and their own story to tell.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How old is Ashley Biles Thomas?
Ashley Biles Thomas was born on February 15, 1990, which makes her 35 years old as of 2025. She is seven years older than her sister Simone Biles.
2. Does Ashley Biles Thomas have a good relationship with Simone Biles?
Their relationship is not very public. They don’t appear together often on social media and live in different states. However, Ashley has posted supportive messages about Simone, showing she is proud of her sister’s success.
3. Why didn’t Ashley move to Texas with Simone?
When their grandfather adopted Simone and Adria, Ashley and her brother Tevin chose to stay in Ohio. They were adopted by their great-aunt Harriet and remained in Cleveland while the younger sisters moved to Texas.
4. What does Ashley Biles Thomas do for work?
Ashley’s current job or profession is not publicly known. She keeps her personal and professional life very private and away from media attention.
5. How many children does Ashley Biles Thomas have?
Ashley is a mother to multiple children, including triplets. In 2016, it was reported she had a daughter who was seven years old at that time. She has since had more children, but specific details are kept private.
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