Ashley Biles Thomas: The Untold Story of Simone Biles’ Older Sister

When people hear the name Biles, they almost always think of Simone Biles, the most decorated gymnast in history. Far fewer know about Ashley Biles Thomas, Simone’s older sister, whose life followed a very different and far quieter path. This article tells the story of Ashley Biles Thomas clearly and honestly: who she is, how she grew up, her connection to Simone, the struggles she has faced, and where things stand today.

Who Is Ashley Biles Thomas?

Ashley Biles Thomas (often written as Ashley Biles-Thomas) is the older sister of Olympic champion Simone Biles. She is largely a private person who rose to public attention only because of her famous sibling. Unlike Simone, Ashley has never sought the spotlight; she keeps a low profile, rarely appears in interviews, and is not active on social media in any consistent way.

It is important to clear up a common online mix-up right away: some low-quality websites mistakenly describe Ashley Biles Thomas as Simone’s mother. That is incorrect. Simone’s biological mother is Shanon Biles, while Ashley is one of Shanon’s older children, and therefore Simone’s sister. Getting this relationship right matters for anyone researching the family.

Here is a quick-reference snapshot of the key facts about Ashley Biles Thomas:

Detail	Information
Full name	Ashley Biles Thomas (Ashley Biles-Thomas)
Relationship to Simone	Older sister
Year of birth	1990
Age (2026)	Around 36 years old
Birthplace	Columbus, Ohio, USA
Mother	Shanon Biles
Public profile	Very private; not active online

Ashley Biles Thomas Age and Early Background

Ashley Biles Thomas was born in 1990 in Columbus, Ohio, which makes her roughly 36 years old in 2026. She is about seven years older than Simone, who was born in March 1997. Because Ashley keeps her life private, very little verified physical or personal detail circulates publicly; reports generally describe her only in broad terms and note that she stays away from cameras and online attention.

The early years of the Biles siblings were marked by serious hardship. Their mother, Shanon Biles, struggled with addiction to drugs and alcohol, which made it extremely difficult to provide a safe and stable home. As the oldest child, Ashley often had to step into a caretaking role for her younger brothers and sisters far earlier than any child should have to. In her memoir, Simone has described how Ashley helped feed, dress, and look after the younger children.

This difficult environment eventually led to the children entering foster care, and the family was split apart. Simone and her younger sister Adria were later adopted by their grandfather, Ron Biles, and his wife Nellie, who raised them in Texas. Ashley and another sibling took a different route, and the siblings grew up largely separated. This separation is a central reason the lives of Ashley Biles Thomas and Simone Biles diverged so dramatically.

How Childhood Shaped Two Very Different Lives

The story of Ashley Biles Thomas is, in many ways, a study in how the same starting point can lead to completely different outcomes. Both sisters came from the same hard beginning, shaped by their mother’s addiction and an unstable household. But the support systems available to each of them differed enormously.

Simone found stability, structure, and the opportunity to develop her natural talent in gymnastics, eventually becoming a global icon. Ashley, by contrast, carried the weight of early trauma into adulthood without the same safety net. Her path was shaped by survival rather than spotlight moments, and that context is essential to understanding her later challenges with compassion rather than judgment.

Ashley Biles Thomas and Her Legal Struggles

A significant part of why people search for Ashley Biles Thomas relates to her documented legal history, which has been reported by several established outlets. These are matters of public record, and they are summarized here factually.

According to Nicki Swift, Ashley pleaded guilty to a drug trafficking charge in 2015, stemming from a 2014 traffic stop in Delaware County, Ohio. She received probation and a short jail term. Reporting by Heavy and others notes that she was later involved in an assault case in 2019, to which she pleaded guilty and received probation, and that she faced further charges in 2021, shortly before the Tokyo Olympics.

These reports paint a picture of someone repeatedly affected by the ripple effects of a traumatic upbringing. Rather than sensationalizing them, it is fairer to view these events as part of a broader, painful pattern that many people who experienced childhood instability and addiction in the family unfortunately know well.

The Relationship Between Ashley and Simone Biles

The current relationship between Ashley Biles Thomas and Simone Biles is not fully public, and both women appear to keep it that way. Simone does not appear to share photos with Ashley on social media, and Ashley maintains a private presence.

Even so, there have been moments of visible support. In April 2021, Ashley shared a post praising Simone, calling her sister the real “G.O.A.T.” Small gestures like this suggest that, despite years of separation and very different lives, a family bond still exists between them.

For verified context on Simone’s own life and background, the Simone Biles Wikipedia page and her official website are reliable starting points.

Why People Search for “Ashley Biles Thomas”

The search interest around Ashley Biles Thomas tends to spike for a few clear reasons:

• Simone Biles’ fame. Major Olympic moments and Simone’s advocacy around mental health repeatedly bring renewed attention to her family.
• Curiosity about her backstory. Simone has spoken openly about her difficult early childhood, prompting readers to learn more about the siblings she grew up with.
• The legal headlines. News reports about Ashley’s legal issues, especially around 2021, drove substantial search traffic.

Because so much of the online content about Ashley Biles Thomas is repetitive or inaccurate, it helps to rely on the established facts: she is Simone’s older sister, born in 1990 in Ohio, who has lived a private life shaped by early hardship.

Key Takeaways

• Ashley Biles Thomas is the older sister of Simone Biles, not her mother.
• She was born in 1990 in Columbus, Ohio, making her around 36 in 2026 and roughly seven years older than Simone.
• The siblings’ difficult childhood, marked by their mother Shanon’s addiction, led to foster care and the family being separated.
• Ashley has faced documented legal challenges over the years, reported by outlets such as Nicki Swift and Heavy.
• She remains a private individual who has largely stayed out of the public eye.

Ashley Biles Thomas’s story is a reminder that not everyone from the same family shares the same opportunities or outcomes, and that behind every famous name there are real, complicated human lives.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is Ashley Biles Thomas?

Ashley Biles Thomas is the older sister of Olympic gymnast Simone Biles. She is a private individual who became known to the public only because of her connection to her famous sister.

Is Ashley Biles Thomas Simone Biles’ mother or sister?

She is Simone’s older sister. Some websites incorrectly call her Simone’s mother, but Simone’s biological mother is Shanon Biles. Ashley is one of Shanon’s older children.

How old is Ashley Biles Thomas?

She was born in 1990, which makes her approximately 36 years old in 2026. She is about seven years older than Simone Biles.

Where is Ashley Biles Thomas from?

She was born in Columbus, Ohio, in the United States, and has been associated with the Ohio area throughout much of her life.

Why did Ashley and Simone Biles grow up apart?

Their mother, Shanon Biles, struggled with addiction, which led to the children entering foster care. Simone and her younger sister Adria were adopted by their grandparents, while Ashley took a different path, so the siblings grew up largely separated.

What legal issues has Ashley Biles Thomas faced?

According to established outlets, she pleaded guilty to a drug trafficking charge in 2015 and an assault charge in 2019, and faced additional charges in 2021. These are matters of public record reported by sites such as Nicki Swift and Heavy.

Do Ashley and Simone Biles have a relationship today?

Their current relationship is largely private. Simone does not publicly share photos with Ashley, but Ashley has shown public support for her sister, including a 2021 social media post praising Simone.