Simone Biles is getting support at the Paris Olympics from a different kind of teammate.
Chicago Bears Coach Matt Eberflus confirmed Monday to the Chicago Sun-Times that safety Jonathan Owens, Biles’ husband, is getting time off from training camp to watch her compete in her third Summer Games. The couple married in April 2023.
Owens will miss the Hall of Fame exhibition game against the Houston Texans and several practices between July 29 to Aug. 3 to cheer Biles on.
“We respect the Olympics. That’s a big deal,” Eberflus said, per USA Today. “He’s supporting the one he loves the most. I think that’s so cool that he gets to do that. We welcome that and it’s going to be awesome.”
During his stay in the City of Light, Owens will be able to watch his beloved in the team final on July 30 and the all-around final on Aug. 1. Biles, who won the all-around gold in 2016, is looking to return to form after mental health issues led her to withdraw from the all-around final at the 2021 Tokyo Games. U.S. teammate Suni Lee went on to win the gold medal.
Biles had previously anticipated that her husband would get time off to attend the Olympics.
The gymnast, who is also a six-time all-around World Champion, got uncharacteristically personal with fans recently over negative comments directed at Owens over several months.
“Y’all are blatantly being disrespectful to my relationship & my husband,” she wrote on Instagram in May. “So I’m gonna go ahead and say this one time. Respectfully, fuck off.”
“If you keep commenting or tweeting at me I’m just going to block you,” she continued. “Simple as that.”
