Shannon Biles, the biological mother of USA Olympic gymnast Simone Biles is responding to critics for unearthing her past drug abuse.
In a video interview with TMZ Sports, Shannon says she feels her character is being defamed. Now clean and sober, Shannon wants to keep the past in the past.
“I’ve gotten better and life goes on. And that’s my past and that’s where it should be left at; the past,” she says.
Simone and her younger sister Adria were placed in foster care as toddlers while Shannon struggled with drug abuse.
The sisters lived in foster care until their maternal grandfather Ron, and wife Nellie, adopted them. To this day, Simone calls her grand-parents mom and dad.
Shannon says that she has been following her daughter’s career for years–long before Simone’s three-time world all-around champion titles.
According to Shannon, she talks to Simone every few months and has been invited a number of times to spend time on family vacations and other competitions.
“I’m just proud,” Shannon says reflecting on her daughter’s success.
Watch the full interview with TMZ Sports below.
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