In the high-stakes world of elite sports, where the pressure of competition can be immense, having a steadfast personal support system becomes invaluable. For icons like gymnast Simone Biles and skier Mikaela Shiffrin, this foundation is provided by their partners, who are not only their biggest cheerleaders but also high-level athletes who understand the unique demands of their lives.

Biles is married to NFL safety Jonathan Owens, who plays for the Chicago Bears, while Shiffrin is engaged to Norwegian World Cup alpine ski racer Aleksander Aamodt Kilde. Owens demonstrated his support by having the Chicago Bears grant him a brief leave from NFL training camp to be in the crowd for Biles’s competitions at the Paris Olympics. Similarly, Shiffrin and Kilde, who got engaged in 2024, navigate the World Cup circuit together, sharing the same rigorous travel and competition schedule.

The profound understanding that flows between these athlete couples was beautifully captured in a conversation between Simone Biles and Mikaela Shiffrin for NBC Olympics & Paralympics. Biles initiated the discussion by asking Shiffrin, “I remember in Paris, we were talking about our significant others and how they support us, but how they’re also high-level elite athletes. How do you think that has helped you?”

Shiffrin replied, “Yeah, I mean, I feel like being with somebody who gets the pressure you’re under, it just makes things so much calmer. And there’s moments with Alex where I just feel like, you see me even though I’m not talking. Like, you just see me.”

This sentiment of being fully seen and understood without a word being spoken was one that Biles immediately recognized from her own experience in Paris with her husband, Jonathan Owens. She responded, “I feel like I felt that in Paris with my husband, Jonathan. It’s like, he didn’t have to say anything, but just locking eyes with him in the crowd was just like, it was like peace.”

Shiffrin then affectionately recalled Owens’s visible enthusiasm, noting, “Oh my god, he was just cheering for you,” to which Biles agreed, “Yeah, he was so cute.” Shiffrin concluded, stating, “And then you go to his football games and you’re cheering. I’m like, ah!” This mutual support extends beyond quiet understanding to active, tangible encouragement, especially during difficult times. And surely, Biles and Owens are a perfect example of this.

Jonathan Owens has always been the ideal partner for Simone Biles

For Simone Biles, Jonathan Owens was a crucial pillar in her recovery after her challenging experience at the Tokyo Olympics, where she struggled with a mental block known as the “twisties.” She shared that in the aftermath, Owens encouraged her return to training and ensured she attended her therapy sessions, providing an essential shoulder to lean on during a dark period.

His presence is a stabilizing force, with Biles noting that marriage has changed her perspective, making gymnastics a privilege she gets to do rather than her entire identity, as she now goes home to her husband and a life beyond the sport.

“Gymnastics is just something I get to come in and have the privilege of doing. I don’t feel like it’s the end all be all anymore, as before I kind of felt like that. I get to go home to my husband, to my dogs, to my house and all of the things. So it feels really good,” the GOAT of the sport once confessed.

This dynamic of having a partner who provides both a calming presence and enthusiastic celebration showcases a powerful balance. It is a partnership where both individuals champion each other’s careers, with Biles affirming, “That’s what couples do.” Well, for these world-class athletes, having a partner who truly sees them provides an unparalleled sense of peace that, in its own way, is as foundational to their success as their extraordinary talent and relentless dedication.