Ashley Biles Thomas: The Older Sister of Simone Biles and Her Difficult Life Story

When people hear the name Biles, they usually think of Simone Biles, the amazing Olympic gymnast. But Simone has an older sister named Ashley Biles Thomas, whose life story is very different from her famous sister’s success. Ashley’s journey has been filled with many challenges, struggles, and difficult moments that most people don’t know about.
Quick Bio
| Full Name | Ashley Biles Thomas |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | February 15, 1990 |
| Age | 34 years old (as of 2024) |
| Birthplace | Columbus, Ohio, USA |
| Famous For | Being Simone Biles’ older sister |
| Parents | Shanon Biles (mother), Father unknown |
| Siblings | Simone Biles, Adria Biles, Tevin Biles-Thomas |
| Children | Multiple children including daughter Nacari |
| Current Residence | Columbus, Ohio |
| Height | 5 feet 2 inches (157 cm) |
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. Ashley grew up in a very difficult home situation. Her mother, Shanon Biles, struggled with drug and alcohol problems. This made life hard for Ashley and her three younger siblings.
As the oldest child in the family, Ashley had to grow up quickly. She often took care of her younger brothers and sisters. Simone once wrote in her book that Ashley helped dress them, played with them, and put them to sleep at night. Even though she was just a child herself, Ashley acted like a mother to the younger kids.
Life at home became more and more difficult. Their mother couldn’t take proper care of the children because of her addiction problems. The house they lived in was in poor condition, and sometimes the children didn’t have enough food to eat. Neighbors noticed these problems and called social services to help.
Foster Care and Family Separation
In 1999 or 2000, when Ashley was about 9 or 10 years old, something big happened. Social workers took all four children away from their mother. Ashley, Tevin, Simone, and Adria were all placed in foster care. Luckily, the siblings stayed together during this time, which helped them feel less scared.
Foster care was not easy for any of them. The children had many difficult memories from this period. Simone later talked about being hungry often during their time in foster care. It was a confusing and scary time for young Ashley and her siblings.
In 2000, their grandfather Ron Biles and his wife Nellie started taking care of the children. Ron Biles lived in Spring, Texas, far away from Ohio. The children stayed with their grandparents temporarily at first. Then, in 2003, a big decision was made that would change everyone’s life.
Ron and Nellie decided to adopt the two youngest girls, Simone and Adria. They moved to Texas with their grandparents. But Ashley and her brother Tevin made a different choice. They wanted to stay in Ohio, the place they knew as home. Ron’s sister, Harriet, adopted Ashley and Tevin, and they stayed in Cleveland, Ohio.
This separation meant that the four siblings grew up in different states, in different homes, and lived very different lives. Ashley was about 13 years old when this happened. While Simone went on to become a world-famous gymnast in Texas, Ashley’s life in Ohio took a much harder path.
Ashley’s Adult Life and Legal Problems
As Ashley grew older, she faced many challenges. Unlike her sister Simone, who found success in gymnastics, Ashley struggled with the law. Her adult life has been marked by several arrests and legal troubles.
Drug-Related Charges
In June 2014, Ashley was stopped by police in Delaware County, Ohio, during a regular traffic check. The police officer thought something was wrong and searched the car. They found 90 pills of oxycodone and 60 pills of oxymorphone. Ashley was with her boyfriend and a cousin at the time.
She was charged with drug trafficking and drug possession. In 2015, Ashley pleaded guilty to one count of drug trafficking. The judge gave her a sentence of 90 days in jail and four years of probation. However, she was released after only three days and put on probation instead.
Assault Charges
Ashley’s legal problems didn’t stop there. In April 2019, just weeks before her probation was supposed to end, she was arrested again. This time, she was charged with assault. She pleaded guilty to this charge and received a sentence of six months in jail and two years of probation. Most of her jail time was suspended, which means she didn’t have to serve all of it.
In the same year, Ashley was also charged with having drug paraphernalia. However, this charge was later dismissed by the court.
2021 Arrest During Olympics
Ashley’s most recent and public arrest happened in July 2021. This was just weeks before the Tokyo Olympics, where Simone was preparing to compete. On July 6, 2021, Ashley was arrested again in Columbus, Ohio.
This time, she faced multiple charges including:
- Violating her probation
- Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol
- Driving with a suspended license
- Leaving the scene of an accident
- Failing to stop at a stop sign
The incident had actually happened on June 4, 2021, and a warrant was issued for her arrest. The timing was very difficult for the Biles family. While the whole world was watching Simone prepare for Olympic gold, Ashley was dealing with jail and court hearings. According to reports, Ashley spent about a year in jail after this arrest.
Personal Life and Children
Despite all her struggles, Ashley is a mother. Her own mother, Shanon Biles, told the Daily Mail in 2016 that Ashley had a daughter who was seven years old at that time. Her daughter’s name is Nacari, and she would be around 15 years old now.
Ashley has also posted on social media about having triplets. In May 2020, she shared a sad post remembering the father of her triplets, who had passed away. She wrote, “Missing you like crazy.”
Ashley lives in Columbus, Ohio, and keeps most of her personal life private. She has a Facebook account where she sometimes posts, but she doesn’t share much about her daily life or work. There is no public information about what job she has or how she earns money.
Relationship with Simone Biles

The relationship between Ashley and Simone is complicated and not very clear. The two sisters have been living separate lives since Simone was six years old. They grew up in different states, with different families, and had very different experiences.
Simone rarely mentions Ashley on social media. There are no recent photos of the two sisters together on Simone’s Instagram or other social accounts. This is very different from how Simone talks about her other siblings. She often posts about her younger sister Adria, and she used to post about her brother Tevin before his legal troubles.
However, Ashley does seem proud of her famous sister. In April 2021, Ashley posted a picture of Simone on Facebook with the words: “Ma sister is fire. She is the real G.O.A.T.” (G.O.A.T. means “Greatest Of All Time”)
Ashley also posted about her family’s struggles in June 2021 when her brother Tevin was acquitted of murder charges. She wrote: “Maybe our family has been through a lot and maybe my sister did beat the odds but at the end of the day we are strong.”
These posts show that Ashley is aware of how different her life is from Simone’s. While Simone became one of the greatest athletes in the world, Ashley has faced many difficulties. But Ashley still supports her sister and feels proud of what Simone has achieved.
The Impact of a Difficult Childhood
Ashley’s story helps us understand how hard childhood experiences can affect people’s lives. Both Ashley and Simone came from the same difficult background. They both experienced their mother’s addiction, foster care, and family separation. But their lives turned out very differently.
Simone had the support of her grandparents in Texas. She discovered gymnastics and found something she was amazing at. Her grandparents gave her stability, love, and the chance to follow her dreams. This helped her become successful.
Ashley, on the other hand, stayed in Ohio. While she was also adopted by a loving relative, her path was much harder. The effects of her early childhood struggles seemed to follow her into adult life. Her legal problems and difficulties show how childhood trauma can have long-lasting effects.
Where Is Ashley Now?
Ashley keeps a low profile and stays out of the public eye. She lives in Columbus, Ohio, and focuses on her life as a mother. In July 2022, she posted on Facebook saying she had just gotten out of jail and was happy to be home.
Unlike her famous sister, Ashley doesn’t seek attention or publicity. She maintains a private Facebook account but doesn’t post often. Most people only hear about Ashley when she has legal troubles or when people write about Simone’s family.
Conclusion
Ashley Biles Thomas’s story is one of struggle, challenges, and survival. While her younger sister Simone reached incredible heights in gymnastics, Ashley’s journey has been marked by difficulties and legal troubles. Both sisters came from the same hard beginning, but life took them in very different directions.
Ashley’s story reminds us that not everyone in a family has the same opportunities or outcomes. It also shows us how difficult childhood experiences can affect people in different ways. While Simone had the chance to succeed with support and her natural talent, Ashley has had to deal with ongoing challenges.
Despite everything, Ashley remains a sister, a mother, and someone who is trying to make her way in life. Her story may not have the glory and medals of her famous sister, but it is just as real and important to understand.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How old is Ashley Biles Thomas?
Ashley Biles Thomas was born on February 15, 1990, which makes her 34 years old as of 2024. She is seven years older than her famous sister Simone Biles.
2. Does Ashley Biles Thomas have a good relationship with Simone Biles?
The relationship between Ashley and Simone is unclear. They have been separated since Simone was six years old and grew up in different states. Simone doesn’t post about Ashley on social media, but Ashley has shown support for Simone on Facebook, calling her “the real G.O.A.T.”
3. How many children does Ashley Biles Thomas have?
Ashley is a mother to multiple children, including a daughter named Nacari who is around 15 years old now. She has also mentioned having triplets on her social media posts.
4. What legal problems has Ashley Biles Thomas faced?
Ashley has had several arrests including drug trafficking charges in 2014, assault charges in 2019, and multiple charges in 2021 including driving under the influence, violating probation, and leaving the scene of an accident. She spent time in jail for these offenses.
5. Where does Ashley Biles Thomas live now?
Ashley Biles Thomas currently lives in Columbus, Ohio, the same city where she was born. She maintains a private life and doesn’t share much information publicly about her daily activities or work.
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