Jonathan Owens Will Support Simone Biles 'One Thousand Percent' If She Goes for 2028 L.A. Olympics (Exclusive)

Mar. 15, 2025

Simone Biles and Jonathan Owens attend a game between the Houston Rockets and the Los Angeles Lakers on Jan. 29, 2024.Photo:Carmen Mandato/Getty Images

Carmen Mandato/Getty Images

ShouldSimone Biles— themost decorated gymnast of all time— return to the Olympics when the competition moves to Los Angeles in 2028, she’ll have the full support of her husband,Jonathan Owens.

Speaking exclusively to PEOPLE for Biles' cover issue — on stands on Friday, Aug. 9 — Owens, 29, says he’ll be on board for “whatever she chooses.” He adds, “I’m going to support her one thousand percent.”

The Chicago Bears safety — who wasgiven special permission to miss the startof his NFL team’s training camp to support his wife in Paris — says he “can’t make that decision for her.” He says, “It’s going to depend on how she feels because there’s a lot of sacrifice that comes with it.”

Yet, Owens knows firsthand the hard work and focus Biles, 27, has invested to become the greatest Olympic gymnast in history.

While he says “of course” he wants to see his wife compete in the 2028 Los Angeles Summer Olympics, Owens explains, “If she feels like it is time to focus on life… because when you are locked in, you do have to sacrifice a lot and you do miss a lot.”

“That’s the one thing that she would just have to figure out for herself. And like I said, man, I’m here to support her a thousand percent and whatever she decides to do,” says Owens.

Simone Biles and Jonathan Owens attend a game between the Houston Rockets and the Los Angeles Lakers.Carmen Mandato/Getty Images

While family life is on the horizon, with Biles revealing they “definitely"want to have childrenin the future, she alsoleft the door open for a returnin four years.

After winning the gold medal in the individual vault final on Aug. 3, Biles said Paris was “definitely” the last time she will perform theYurchenko double pike. However, when asked about a potential return in 2028, she told reporters, including PEOPLE, “The next Olympics is at home, so you just never know. But I am getting really old.”

And there are other life moments to consider outside of competition.

In addition to the possibility of kids, construction of thecouple’s home in Houstonwill be completed soon. Owens tells PEOPLE the estimate is “probably another couple of months” until a “final walkthrough” — but they “can’t wait to be able to be in there.”

Owens, meanwhile,signed with the Chicago Bearsfollowing the conclusion of the 2023-2024 NFL season, which means he’ll be in Illinois through the New Year. “Chicago’s a pretty amazing city too,” the athlete says.

But once the NFL season ends, Biles and Owens, whotied the knot in April 2023, plan to enjoy their new home in Houston while the Olympian begins contemplating her gymnastics future.

Simone Biles kisses husband Jonathan Owens on the sidelines before NFL game.Patrick McDermott/Getty Images

Patrick McDermott/Getty Images

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“I was just trying to be as understanding as I could because I wasn’t there. I don’t know the exact emotions, but I was feeling it with her, talking with her before everything happened,” he tells PEOPLE.

Jonathan Owens cheers on his wife Simone Biles at the 2024 Paris Olympics.Pascal Le Segretain/Getty

Pascal Le Segretain/Getty

When Biles ultimately decided “that she wanted to go back and keep training,” Owens says his focus was solely on “supporting her” and “being there for her.”

“If she needs a massage, I got you. Anything I could do to just help out and just be that comfort man whenever she needs to get away from gymnastics,” he continues.

Watching her make history in Paris “was an unbelievable, once-in-a-lifetime experience,” Owens says. “It’s just amazing to see her go out there time and time again and just how consistent she can be and she just continues to do it, man.”

“I’m just so proud sitting there in the stands like, man, this is my wife — the best ever,” Owens continues. “And that’s really all I could think about… just how proud and how happy I was for her just because of how much she puts into it.”

source: people.com