6. She’s a Texan — kinda
Biles was born in Columbus, Ohio, but she moved to Houston with her family at the age of 3. Her interest in gymnastics was sparked at age 6 when she visited a gym on a day care field trip.
7. She was raised by her grandparents
Biles moved to Houston in 2000 as a toddler, along with her three siblings, to live with her grandparents when her mother could no longer care for them. Biles and her younger sister, Adria, were adopted by her grandparents, and her older siblings were adopted by her sister.
8. She was homeschooled
When it comes to education, what’s a busy, young gymnast to do? For her secondary education, Biles was homeschooled and graduated from high school in 2015. The athlete deferred her attendance to UCLA so she could compete in the 2016 SummerOlympics.
9. It runs in the family
Remember Biles’ younger sister Adria, who was also adopted by their grandparents? Like her super-successful sis, Adria happens to be a gymnast, and the sisters often train together.
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10. She has a move named after her
You know you’re kind of a big deal when you have a gymnastics move named after you. The Biles, as it’s been called among gymnasts, is a double layout with a half twist.
11. She’s totally down to earth
Biles may have already made gymnastics history, but she still strives to live life as a normal teenager. Some of her favorite hobbies include shopping and hanging out with friends, and she’s also a big fan of The Hunger Games and Divergent.
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