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How did Simone Biles meet her husband? Newlywed makes history as oldest woman to win US Gymnastics Championship

The newlywed Simon Biles displayed her unparalleled skills with an all-around two-day total score of 118.40

SPRING, TEXAS: Simone Biles, often hailed as one of the greatest gymnasts of all time, clinched an unprecedented eighth US championship on Sunday, August 27 - a remarkable milestone ten years after her initial victory as a 16-year-old from Houston. 

The 26-year-old newlywed displayed her unparalleled skills with an all-around two-day total score of 118.40, outshining her competition. Shilese Jones secured the runner-up position, while Florida junior Leanne Wong seized third place, further bolstering her prospects of earning a spot on the world championship team for the third consecutive time.

Biles made history by becoming the oldest woman to claim a national title since USA Gymnastics began organizing the event back in 1963. In addition to her remarkable sporting achievements, Biles recently entered into wedding bliss with NFL star Jonathan Owens, a union that took place in Cabo, Mexico, subsequent to their civil ceremony in Houston in April.

Simone Biles and Jonathan Owens' unique connection

The love story between Owens and Biles emerged amidst the challenging backdrop of the Covid-19 pandemic. Both residing in Texas, the couple's connection ignited through the celebrity dating app Raya just prior to the implementation of quarantine measures in March 2020, as revealed in an interview with Glamour.

Taking the initiative, Biles initiated contact. "He would say I slid into his DMs," Biles shared with The Wall Street Journal. "I saw that he was in the Houston area, so we started chatting a little bit, and then we went to hang out a week or two later." Their relationship progressed swiftly after Biles's sister, Adria, welcomed Owens on a family trip, and soon enough, he was a regular attendee at the family's weekly Sunday gatherings.

Remarkably, Owens acknowledged that the period of quarantine actually deepened their bond. He expressed, "We ended up hanging out right before the pandemic. It was one of the few times in her life where everything was just shut off and she couldn’t do anything. So we used it to get to know each other—really get to know each other. It created our bond and made it stronger. Now I’m so thankful," as conveyed to Texas Monthly.

The couple made their relationship public on Instagram in August 2020, a time when the Tokyo Olympics were initially scheduled to take place before the postponement due to the pandemic. Biles shared affectionate selfies of the pair, captioning them with "It’s just us." Their engagement followed in February 2022, an occasion Biles labeled as the "easiest yes" she has ever given.

As for Owens's romantic nature, his sentiments are clear. "This was a match made in heaven. There’s no better person for me. She loves me, she’s so affectionate. I just love that. And it’s just intoxicating seeing how much work she puts into everything," he shared.

How did Simone Biles make history?

Biles shattered records as she became the oldest woman to capture a national title since USA Gymnastics commenced organizing the event in 1963.

Her accumulation of eight championships propelled her past the previous record held by Alfred Jochim, who claimed seven titles between 1925 and 1933 under the administration of the Amateur Athletics Union, an era that included men's events such as rope climbing.

Why did Simone Biles get married twice?

Biles explained that due to their wedding plans in Mexico, they found it necessary to also hold a legal marriage ceremony in the United States for it to be recognized.

Initially, the couple exchanged vows at the Harris County Courthouse in Houston in April, and later, they commemorated their union once more with a celebration in Mexico.