Simone Biles: Mother of Olympic gold gymnast angered over father's discussion of her addiction problems

'He didn’t have to put me under the bus'

Simone Biles and her United States team-mates show off their gold medals (Getty)

Shanon Biles, the biological mother of Olympic gold gymnast Simone Biles, has spoken of her pride in her daughter and accused her father, Simone’s adoptive parent, of being “harsh” in the way he discussed her problems with addiction.

Simone was adopted at the age of six as Shanon struggled with drug and alcohol addiction. Her grandfather Ron Biles and his wife Nellie became her legal parents and were there to cheer her on at Rio Olympics, where the diminutive 19-year-old and her US teammates stormed to victory in the women's team all-around.

Shanon, 44, has been sober since 2007 and now works in a care facility for elderly residents. Speaking from her home in Ohio where she lives with her two youngest children, she told the Mail Online she spoke to Simone six weeks ago. Shanon said her main aim was to allow her daughter to stay focused for the Olympics “and be number one”.

“I’m very proud of her, I’m doing great and I want the world to know that,” she added.

Speaking separately to TMZ, Shanon said she felt her father’s comments during his interview about his decision to adopt Biles were insensitive.

“I feel like he didn’t have to be so harsh about it,” she said. “He didn’t have to be so harsh about it. He could’ve been a little bit more classy with it. He didn’t have to put me under the bus.

“I just want to say I love you, Simone," she said later. "I’m so proud of you! Go Team USA and I’ll talk to you and see you when I can!”