Simone Biles says she ‘almost died’ in hospital

Simone Biles revealed on Instagram that a terrifying health scare this week sent her to hospital, describing it as an experience where she “almost died.” The 29-year-old said she is now back home, sharing images from her recovery and pointing to a supportive i

Simone Biles spent the week after a sudden rush to hospital in bed, and on Saturday afternoon she finally told fans why her silence felt different.

The Olympic legend, 29, wrote on Instagram that she “almost died” earlier this week. She posted a photo of herself wearing several hospital wristbands and said she isn’t normally one to share personal matters because she “value[s] privacy in today’s age.”

Then she went further, describing what happened in blunt terms. “But almost dying wasn’t on my bingo card earlier this week. This was one of, if not the scariest experience of my life,” she wrote, adding that it was especially frightening because “Jonathan was in Indy for practices.”

Biles said she’s been resting in bed since then and used a second message to thank the people who stepped in while she recovered. She wrote: “I’ve been in bed resting this week, I’ll explain sooner or later but s/o to my close circle who reached out, checked in, visited & or sent flowers.”

In a further post, she shared a photo of herself lying in bed with her dogs and captioned it “I’ll be here.” In the same update, she also included a screenshot showing an extremely elevated resting heartbeat.

It’s not clear from her posts what caused Biles to be rushed to hospital. What is clear, though, is that the immediate crisis has eased at least enough for her to return home. The timing sits in stark contrast to how recently she was out in public with her husband, NFL quarterback Jonathan Owens.

On Friday afternoon, Biles shared pictures from a visit to watch the St. Louis Cardinals, with Owens throwing out the first pitch for his hometown team. Owens posted on his Instagram story too. joking that Biles is “from the crib now. ” comments that—at least for the couple—suggest the worst is now behind them.

The health scare has nonetheless triggered an outpouring of support for Biles. who has not competed since the 2024 Games in Paris. where she won three gold medals. She currently lives in Texas with Owens. and his recent schedule helps explain why he wasn’t by her side during the ordeal. Owens had committed to NFL work in the Midwest. and he signed a one-year. $1.4 million deal with the Indianapolis Colts after two years with the Chicago Bears.

Biles and Owens have been building a lakeside home from scratch. but the “Indy for practices” line in her message made it clear that the couple’s rhythms don’t always line up. They met in 2020 on the celebrity dating app Raya during the coronavirus lockdown. and Owens previously described how those early months felt different because so much of life was “just shut off and she couldn’t do anything.” He said in an interview with Texas Monthly: “It was one of the few times in her life where everything was just shut off and she couldn’t do anything.”.

He added: “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.”

The pair tied the knot in 2023. and since then they’ve often been each other’s loudest supporters. attending games and competitions together. Their bond has been central to Biles’ public life—especially given what fans have long understood about her career. her body. and the demands that come with elite gymnastics.

Biles is widely regarded as the greatest gymnast of all time and is America’s most decorated gymnast in Olympic history. She has not ruled out competing again at the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028, though she acknowledged that gymnasts do not typically stretch that far into their careers.

Just last week—before the health scare—she told French publication El Pais she was torn about whether she would go to LA. “I’d say we’re still at about 50 per cent,” she said. She also argued for athletes being admired while they are actively competing. saying: “I feel we should know how to admire athletes while they are active and competing. I’ve already been to three Olympic Games, and I feel fulfilled.”.

She said the choice would always be hers, adding: “In the end, the decision will always be mine.”

Biles then described the physical reality she believes governs high-level sport: “I feel our bodies are a bit like an hourglass that’s slowly running out.” She noted that she is 29 and said that even with improved longevity in elite athletics, chasing Los Angeles—at 31—would be “a huge sacrifice.”

To stay active since Paris, she said she has mainly been doing pilates with Owens. “Honestly it’s not fun at all. It’s very hard, pure pain and effort,” she told El Pais. “But he loves it. And I do it because I love sharing it with him.”

For now, the hospital episode is the headline reality. Biles hasn’t given any additional details about the cause of the scare. but her posts—wristbands visible. a resting heartbeat shown. and the blunt line about “almost dying”—make one thing clear: this was a moment she is still processing. and one she wanted to share directly with the people who have followed her for years.

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