Simone Biles, the renowned Olympic gymnast, revealed a frightening health emergency this week, stating she “almost died” and was swiftly taken to the hospital.
The 29-year-old athlete shared this alarming experience on Instagram on Saturday, but has not disclosed specific details regarding her condition.
In her Instagram story, accompanied by an image of several hospital wristbands wrapped around her wrist, Biles wrote: “I don’t usually share personal matters like this since I cherish my privacy in today’s world.”
She continued, “However, nearly dying wasn’t something I expected this week. It was one of the most terrifying experiences of my life, especially with Jonathan away in Indy for practice.”
Biles mentioned that she spent the week recuperating at home and thanked her inner circle for their support, saying, “I’ve been resting in bed this week. I’ll explain more in due time, but huge thanks to my friends and family who reached out, checked in, visited, or sent flowers.”
In a further post, she shared a photo of herself lying in bed with her dogs, alongside the caption ‘I’ll be here’ and a screenshot of an extremely elevated resting heartbeat.
Simone Biles, pictured in December, suffered a terrifying health scare earlier this week
Biles shared the news on her Instagram story, telling her followers she ‘almost died’ this week
While the cause of her hospitalization remains unclear, it seems Biles is recovering at home following the serious incident.
The news led to an outpouring of support for the 11-time Olympic medalist, who has not competed since the 2024 Games in Paris, where she won three golds.
Biles currently lives in Texas with her NFL husband Jonathan Owens, who recently signed a one-year, $1.4million deal with the Indianapolis Colts after two years in Chicago with the Bears.
The loved-up pair have built their dream lakeside home from scratch, but Owens was not present for Biles’ health scare given his NFL commitments in the Midwest.
Biles and Owens met in 2020 on the celebrity dating app Raya, in the middle of the coronavirus lockdown.
Owens previously opened up on their first few months of dating in an interview with Texas Monthly, noting: ‘It was one of the few times in her life where everything was just shut off and she couldn’t do anything.
‘We used it to get to know each other… really get to know each other. It created our bond and made it stronger. Now, I’m so thankful.’
The pair tied the knot in 2023 and have since been each other’s biggest supporters, regularly attending each other’s NFL games and gymnastics competitions.
Biles pictured alongside her husband Jonathan Owens, who plays for the Indianapolis Colts
Biles, 29, is widely considered the greatest gymnast of all time and is America’s most decorated gymnast in Olympic history.
She has not ruled out competing again at the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028, due to it being a home Games, but gymansts do not typically compete that late into their career.
Just last week, before her health scare, she said she is torn over the decision.
‘I’d say we’re still at about 50 per cent,’ she said to French publication El Pais. ‘Although I’ll also take this opportunity to say one thing: I feel we should know how to admire athletes while they are active and competing.
‘I’ve already been to three Olympic Games, and I feel fulfilled. It’s crazy to see how people always want more and more from you. In the end, the decision will always be mine.
‘I feel our bodies are a bit like an hourglass that’s slowly running out. Right now, I’m 29, and although longevity in the elite has advanced by leaps and bounds, it would be a huge sacrifice to try to be at Los Angeles [at 31]. We’ll have to see.’
She added that since the Paris Games, she has mainly stayed active by doing pilates with husband Owens, explaining: ‘Honestly it’s not fun at all. It’s very hard, pure pain and effort. But he loves it. And I do it because I love sharing it with him.’
