Chicago Bears safety Jonathan Owens has called his experience of the 2024 Summer Olympics “crazy” and said watching wife Simone Biles target more medals with Team USA is “super nerve-wracking”.
Biles is one of the greatest gymnasts of all time, winning four gold medals and a bronze at the 2016 Games and a silver and two bronzes at Tokyo 2020.
NFL star Owens has been granted time off by his team to travel to France to watch Biles. “Man, it’s crazy,” said the 29-year-old, who married Biles in April 2023, speaking to AP.
bonjour 💋 pic.twitter.com/u8tzCwqqA6
— Simone Biles (@Simone_Biles) July 1, 2024
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Olympics: Simone Biles ‘on commercials’
“It’s like everyone’s a gymnastics fan now,” marvelled Owens. “People are asking me questions, because you might be walking around the building and see a commercial with her up there. It’s just crazy.
“I haven’t seen her in about three weeks now… I’ve never been over to Paris, so that’s pretty cool to say that I’ve been able to go. But just seeing her and being able to see her do her thing, that’s really what I’m happy for.”
Owens could not watch Biles compete at the last Olympics in person because fans were not allowed in Tokyo as a result of the Covid pandemic.
The former Green Bay Packers player said the Bears were “really cool about it” when he discussed a potential trip to Paris while negotiating to join them as a free agent on a two-year deal in March.
No one loved Simone Biles’ floor exercise more than her family. ❤️ #XfinityChamps pic.twitter.com/Cc3FHmBhCD
— NBC Sports (@NBCSports) June 3, 2024
Jonathan Owens: Bears ‘first-class’
“I just want to thank them so much for even allowing me to go over and do that,” he said, calling Chicago a “first-class organisation”.
“I can’t wait to be able to support her… she really appreciates it. It’s super dope. They’re asking, ‘bring some souvenirs back’. That’s what they’re asking.
“The coaches are doing an amazing job. They’re going to make sure every meeting is recorded, so I’ll be getting all the meetings, all the installs and everything. I won’t miss a beat. I’ll make sure I’m working out [in Paris] and make sure I come back in good shape.”
Six-time world champion Biles could ensure a Bears player’s relative wins a medal at a third successive Summer Olympics.
In 2021, Robert Quinn’s sister, Jasmine Camacho-Quinn, won 100m gold for Puerto Rico. Corey Cogdell-Unrein, the wife of Bears defensive end Mitch Unrein, had won Team USA bronze in women’s trap shooting five years earlier.
Every event!!!!! Just amazing!!!! https://t.co/8JkwsnTEUc
— Jonathan Owens (@jjowens_3) June 3, 2024
Simone Biles: 2024 gold?
Biles and Team USA are favourites to triumph. “It’s the person you love most and you see them up there in a position where someone could get hurt,” said Owens.
“You care about her, so it’s always super nerve-wracking. Let’s say I’m on the field and she sees me hit somebody, or take a hard hit or something. It’s like a gasp of air.
“When she’s on the floor or the beam, I just know how long you work for it and how much you put into it. When you see someone out there – I don’t know, I can’t describe it. We’re just out there holding our breath.”
