CBS NEWS: JUST NOW — Simone Biles Announces Sudden Retirement After Wedding
By CBS News Staff | May 6, 2025
In a move that has shocked the sports world, Simone Biles — widely considered the greatest gymnast of all time — announced her retirement from gymnastics today, just days after her wedding to NFL player Jonathan Owens. The 27-year-old Olympic champion made the announcement in a heartfelt video posted on her official social media channels early Tuesday morning.
“I’ve given this sport everything,” Biles said in the video, wearing a simple white blouse and seated next to Owens. “But now, it’s time for a new chapter — for my family, for peace, and for myself.”
The announcement comes less than three months before the Paris 2025 World Gymnastics Championships, and only a year before the 2026 Olympic Games in Tokyo — an event many expected Biles to headline for Team USA. Biles had been training steadily in recent months, and although she hadn’t publicly committed to the Paris competition, fans and analysts alike had speculated that she would make at least one more run at gold.
A Career Like No Other
Simone Biles’ retirement marks the end of an era in gymnastics. With a combined total of 37 Olympic and World Championship medals, including 23 golds, Biles holds the record for the most decorated gymnast in history. Known for her unmatched power, aerial complexity, and poise under pressure, she has four original skills named after her — two on floor, one on vault, and one on beam — all classified as some of the hardest ever performed.
“She didn’t just raise the bar — she reinvented what we thought was humanly possible,” said NBC Sports commentator and former Olympian Nastia Liukin. “There will never be another Simone.”
Her career has also been defined by resilience. After withdrawing from several events during the 2020 Tokyo Olympics due to mental health concerns, Biles became a global symbol of athlete advocacy and self-care. She returned triumphantly at the 2023 World Championships in Antwerp, winning four medals and proving, once again, that she was in a class of her own.
A Private Wedding, A Public Shift
Biles and Owens were married in a private ceremony last weekend in Cabo San Lucas, surrounded by close family and friends. The couple shared a few candid photos on Instagram, showing Biles in a flowing white gown and Owens in a tailored tan suit, smiling against the backdrop of the Pacific Ocean.
Sources close to Biles say the wedding was a deeply emotional moment for her — not just as a milestone in love, but as a turning point in how she envisioned her future.
“She’s always been committed to the sport,” said a family friend who attended the ceremony. “But after the wedding, she talked about wanting to wake up without pressure, to live for herself — not the spotlight. For the first time, she saw that as more important than standing on another podium.”
In the video, Biles said she made the decision with “clarity and calm,” and emphasized that it was not the result of injury or external pressure. “This is 100% my choice,” she said. “I feel whole. I feel free.”
A Legacy Beyond Medals
Biles’ impact on gymnastics and sports culture is impossible to overstate. Beyond her athletic feats, she has been a vocal advocate for survivors of sexual abuse, mental health awareness, racial equity in sports, and better athlete protections. She testified before the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee in 2021 regarding the FBI’s mishandling of the Larry Nassar investigation, calling for accountability at the highest levels.
“Simone changed the culture,” said Dr. Jennifer Beck, a sports medicine physician and advocate for athlete mental health. “She showed that being elite doesn’t mean being invincible. She empowered young athletes — especially girls of color — to speak up, take breaks, and choose themselves.”
Biles has also remained involved in the sport through her training gym in Houston, the World Champions Centre, co-owned with her family. She said she will continue working with young gymnasts and developing youth programs focused on both excellence and mental well-being.
Reactions From Around the World
Within hours of her announcement, tributes poured in from fellow athletes, celebrities, and fans.
“Simone, you have given us more than we could ever ask for,” tweeted former First Lady Michelle Obama. “Enjoy this new journey. You’ve earned every bit of joy coming your way.”
“Gymnastics won’t be the same without you,” said U.S. teammate Sunisa Lee in a post on Instagram. “But I’m so proud of you for doing what feels right. Love you forever.”
Even international competitors joined in. “Respect to the queen,” wrote Brazil’s Rebeca Andrade. “A legend, an inspiration, and a beautiful soul.”
Looking Ahead
While Biles may be stepping away from elite competition, her influence is far from over. In the video, she hinted at upcoming projects including a memoir, a documentary series, and possibly expanding her gymnastics apparel line, which became a bestseller after its 2023 launch.
“I’m not disappearing,” she said. “You’ll still see me around — just not flipping 10 feet in the air anymore.”
Her retirement also opens the door for a new generation of American gymnasts, many of whom credit Biles for their path to the sport. Up-and-comers like Katelyn Jong, Kaliya Lincoln, and Jayla Hang now carry the torch — albeit in the long shadow of a titan.
But Biles says she’s at peace with that.
“I never wanted to be remembered just for medals. I wanted to change the sport — to make it better, safer, stronger. I think I did that.”
As the video ended, Biles and Owens exchanged a quiet smile. “Here’s to forever,” she said, lifting her hand to show her wedding ring. “And here’s to what comes next.”
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