Simone Biles Defends Decision To Take a Luxury Vacation Days After Suffering ‘Serious Medical Emergency’ at Home in Texas

Gymnast Simone Biles defended her decision to take a luxury vacation to Belize days after experiencing a "serious medical emergency" at her Texas home, stating the trip is crucial for her recovery. Biles, 29, shared on Instagram on June 14 that she and her husband, NFL player Jonathan Owens, were traveling to Belize, where her mother was born. The Olympian faced criticism from some followers who questioned her ability to travel abroad so soon after the undisclosed health incident, with comments suggesting she was "on death's door" and questioning her "traveling selfies" after "almost dying." In response to one critical comment, Biles expressed sadness over the judgment from people with limited knowledge of her experience. She emphasized that the vacation is part of her healing process. Biles holds citizenship in Belize through her mother, Nellie Biles, who was raised there.