Simone Biles, a four-time Olympic gold medalist, is looking to take home some more hardware at her third Summer Olympics in Paris this week — and her husband, NFL player Jonathan Owens, will be in the City of Light to watch the finals on July 30.
Biles and Owens have had some ups and downs in the public eye. During an episode of a podcast called “The Pivot” in December 2023, Owens was criticized by some after he said he had no idea who Biles was when they originally matched on Raya, a dating app, in 2020. He went to call himself “the catch” in their relationship.
Although Owens caught some flak, Biles supported her husband. She posted photos from their April 2023 wedding on Instagram and commented on Owens’ post that their relationship is “for life.”
Here’s a closer look at their relationship over the past four years, from their first post on Instagram to now.
March 2020: They connect via social media and start hanging out
According to a Texas Monthly profile in June 2021 of Owens, the two met right before COVID-19 shut down their sports.
“We ended up hanging out right before the pandemic,” Owens said. “It was one of the few times in her life where everything was just shut off and she couldn’t do anything. So 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.”
Biles told The Wall Street Journal in July 2021 that the two met on Instagram, though later Owens claimed the two met on Raya, a dating app.
“He would say I slid into his DMs,” she said. “I saw him and I was like, ‘Oh, he’s pretty cute,’ so I said hi … and then I saw that he was in the Houston area, so we started chatting a little bit, and then we went to hang out a week or two later.”
Owens added in the Texas Monthly profile that he’d noted Biles’ 4 million — at the time — Instagram followers.
A few weeks later, according to Biles, her younger sister, Adria, saw they were talking on FaceTime, and stole her sister’s phone to ask if Owens was coming to a family trip to their lake house. He accepted the invite and even brought his bulldog, Zeus.
August 2020: Biles debuts Owens on her Instagram
Biles posted a sweet photo of the pair for the first time on August 2. She captioned it, “It’s just us,” with a brown heart.
A few weeks later, she joked about her gymnastics prowess with a photo of the two captioned, “The only time I fall is when he’s there to catch me.”
According to The Wall Street Journal, Owens also began attending Biles family dinners every Sunday around this time.
September 2020: Owens posts about their relationship for the first time
About a month later, on September 8, Owens posted about Biles on Instagram for the first time — a mirror selfie captioned, “Now you rockin with a real one.”
December 2020: Biles spends Christmas with Owens’ family and watches Owens play
Owens shared a series of photos with Biles and his family in matching pajamas, captioned, “Always good to spend Christmas with the fam ❤️ Happy holidays to everyone.”
Biles posted her own photo with Owens with the caption, “if santa ask, the elves did it! merry christmas.”
Two days later, Biles posted about watching Owens play with the Texans before the couple celebrated the new year together.
February 2021: They celebrate Valentine’s Day together with an elaborate setup
Biles and Owens both shared Instagram posts of their ornate decorations, complete with a giant “LOVE” sign, balloons, and rose petals.
March 2021: They travel to Belize to celebrate their anniversary and Biles’ birthday
Biles, who holds dual citizenship in Belize, and Owens both posted about their vacation to the country, including this photo, captioned, “i love you more than i love Belize and thats a lot.”
Owens posted later in the month for Biles’ 24th birthday, complete with a Jay-Z quote.
The following month, the couple took another trip, this time to Florida.
June 2021: Owens watches Biles compete for the first time at the US Gymnastics Championships
Biles won her seventh national all-around title.
Owens told Texas Monthly that watching her compete in person was “unbelievable.”
He added, “It’s so amazing to watch. When I saw her for the first time, I realized that the TV really doesn’t do it justice. When she goes out there and does it, it looks so effortless.”
June 2021: Owens speaks about their relationship and says he ‘didn’t know who’ Biles was at first
During Owens’ Texas Monthly interview, Owens added he didn’t know who Biles was at first.
“I just hadn’t heard of her, and when I told her that, that’s one of the things she liked,” he said.
He gushed about how their bulldogs get along, how amazing it was to see her compete, and why they get along so well.
“This was a match made in heaven,” Owens said. “There’s no better person for me. She loves me, she’s so affectionate. I just love that. And it’s just intoxicating seeing how much work she puts into everything.”
Owens also spoke about how excited he was for Biles to compete in the Tokyo Olympics, which started in July 2021.
“It’s gonna be amazing. I’ll be nervous. I’ll be like, ‘Oh my God, oh my God,'” he said.
July 2021: After Biles experiences the ‘twisties’ and withdraws from 2 Olympic events, Owens shares his love on Instagram
“Imma ride with you through whatever baby,” Owens wrote alongside a carousel of photos of the two of them. “Your strength and courage is unmatched and you inspire me more and more everyday SB. You always gone be my champ baby and don’t you ever forget that, i love you so much and i can’t wait till you come home and i get to see that beautiful smile again. You know I’m always here for you baby,” he said.
Biles commented “I love you so much” with a heart and a fingers crossed emoji.
December 2021: Biles supports her boyfriend at his first NFL start
Biles was there to cheer on Owens during his first NFL start on December 12.
“GAME DAY!!!!” she wrote in an Instagram post of the couple. “#36 on the field #1 in my heart.”
Then, on December 26, during a game against the Los Angeles Chargers, Owens made a key interception against quarterback Justin Herbert then added a fumble recovery. Biles was watching from the stands.
“I’m so proud of you, watching you get your first NFL interception & fumble recovery was a dream!” she wrote on Instagram. “all the hard work is paying off & this is just the beginning!”
February 2022: The couple reveals they’re engaged
On Instagram on February 15, Biles shared a series on photos showing the proposal and her oval-cut diamond ring.
“THE EASIEST YES,” Biles captioned the photos. “I can’t wait to spend forever & ever with you, you’re everything I dreamed of and more! let’s get married FIANCÉ.”
Owens, who also shared the photos on Instagram, commented on Biles’ post, saying, “Ready for forever with you.”
February 2023: Biles has a bachelorette party in Belize, while Owens celebrates in Punta Cana
Biles posted a series of photos and videos on Instagram to celebrate her trip. She shared bride duties with a friend, Kayla Simone.
Owens shared a similar carousel, captioning them: “Island vibes with the guys.”
March 2023: Biles and Owens reveal that they’re building a house together
“cheers to breaking ground,” Biles wrote.
Owens added, “So excited!!!!”
April 2023: They get married in a civil ceremony in Houston
“My person, forever,” Owens wrote. “I never knew a love so deep,” Biles wrote on her post.
May 6, 2023: The couple ties the knot again in front of 144 guests in Cabo, Mexico
Biles spoke with Vogue about her larger wedding. “We had to get married ‘legally’ here in the US since our wedding will be a destination wedding,” Biles said. She walked down the aisle in a Galia Lahav gown.
“I actually felt so sick the entire day, and when it was almost time to walk, my heart was beating out of my chest,” said Biles.
“I’ve never been so nervous before in my life. [But,] I felt confident walking down the aisle. Seeing Jonathan at the altar was a dream. Our guests were cheering for everyone. I was shocked by the love in the air. The ceremony was so beautiful and dreamy!”
May 12, 2023: Biles supports Owens as he gets traded to the Green Bay Packers
“So proud of you baby! here’s to new beginnings,” she wrote.
November 2023: Biles attends a Packers game in Green Bay
Biles captioned an Instagram post, “green bae.”
December 2023: Biles and Owens appear on ‘The Pivot,’ and Owens is later criticized for some of his comments
On an episode of “The Pivot,” Owens recounted the beginning of his relationship with Biles, again stating that he didn’t know who Biles, the most decorated gymnast in history, was when they matched on Raya.
“I’m like, ‘Lemme see who this is.’ I never really paid attention to gymnastics, so it piqued my curiosity,” he said, while Biles laughed and rolled her eyes.
“I always say that the men are the catch,” Owens continued.
While some criticized Owens’ comments, Biles and Owens were unbothered. Biles posted an Instagram of the two captioned “mood,” while Owens posted, “Unbothered. Just know we locked in over here.”
March 2024: Owens is signed to the Chicago Bears, and Biles supports him once more
On March 13, Owens left the Packers and moved south to join the Chicago Bears on a two-year contract. Two days later, he made it Instagram official. His wife commented, “so proud of you baby! can’t wait to see what this year holds! BEAR DOWN”
April 2024: Biles appears on ‘Call Her Daddy’ and shares that the backlash to Owens’ comments ‘really hurt’
Biles appeared on “Call Her Daddy,” a podcast hosted by Alex Cooper, on April 17. They had a wide-ranging discussion about Biles’ experiences with gymnastics, pulling out of the 2020 Olympics, and Owens’ comments on “The Pivot.”
“So, whenever he did that interview, I thought everything was OK. And then I go on Twitter, and everybody’s like, ‘Divorce this man, he’s mean.’ I’m like, ‘He’s the sweetest.’ He praises the ground that I walk on. Truly, I’ve never met a man like him,” she told Cooper. She added that she was there for the entire recording, and thought it had gone well at the time.
Biles also clarified that Owens called himself a catch “because he is,” but never meant to imply Biles wasn’t a catch.
“I thought it was hilarious at first, and then they hurt my feelings,” she said. “One night, I broke down, and I’m like, ‘Why are you guys talking about my husband like this?’ You don’t know him, you don’t know who he is, and if anybody’s met him, they know he’s the sweetest guy and will do anything for anybody.”
July 2024: Owens is able to miss a few days of pre-season training to watch Biles at the Paris Olympics
“It was something me and my agent talked about when we went in and I signed with the team,” Owens told the AP. According to the outlet, he’s missing five days of training camp to visit Paris.
“First-class organization. I just want to thank them so much even allowing me to go over and do that. I can’t wait to be able to support her, and I know my family and my wife, she really appreciates it,” he continued.
Chicago Bears coach Matt Eberflus was also supportive. “I think that’s so cool that he gets to do that. We welcome that, and it’s going to be awesome. Go, USA,” he said.
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