Simone Biles breaks down recalling how one silent look from Jonathan Owens changed everything in Paris Olympics

On July 30, 2024, at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, French Gymnastics Arena, American gymnast Simone Biles locked eyes with her husband, NFL safety Jonathan Owens, in the crowd and felt peace.

She later spoke about how that simple moment gave her calm amid the high-stakes competition. Biles said she didn’t need words from Owens to feel supported; she just felt seen.

The pair, married on April 22, 2023, share a bond that helped Biles shine in Paris.

Simone Biles on Jonathan Owens’ role in Paris Olympics

Simone Biles told fellow Olympic star Mikaela Shiffrin during a filmed conversation for NBC Olympics & Paralympics that having a partner who is also a high-level athlete matters a lot. “It’s like, he didn’t have to say anything, but just locking eyes with him in the crowd was just like… peace,” she said.

Jonathan Owens, who plays for the Chicago Bears, took a short leave from his NFL training camp to attend Biles’s competitions in Paris. Shiffrin added, “Being with somebody who gets the pressure you’re under, it just makes things so much calmer.” Biles nodded in agreement. That kind of mutual understanding with Owens in the stands, Biles on the mat, helped bring Biles focus when every jump and flip counted.

How Simone Biles and Jonathan Owens’ story shaped her Olympic journey

Simone Biles entered the Paris Games after recovering from the “twisties” challenge she faced at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. She said that being married to Jonathan Owens changed her perspective. She now sees gymnastics as the privilege she gets to do, not all she is. “I get to go home to my husband, to my dogs, to my house and all of the things,” she shared. Also Read: Tom Aspinall’s UFC 321 Eye-Poke Controversy Deepens As Aljamain Sterling Doubles Down On His Bold RemarksJonathan Owens, for his part, backed her fully at training, in the stands, and with his presence during major occasions. He was visible in Paris, cheering. Shiffrin called him “just cheering for you,” and Biles laughed, “Yeah, he was so cute.”Their support system shows how elite athletes can rely on each other in ways fans don’t always see: the quiet nods, the knowing looks, the backup when things get tough. With Simone Biles’ eyes on medals and Jonathan Owens providing calm off the mat, the duo made a strong team at Paris.