Simone Biles and Jonathan Owens were in Milan for the Winter Olympics, attending the men’s figure skating event during a trip that marked another stop in their time spent traveling and supporting each other across sports. What was meant to be a relaxed outing abruptly shifted when an incident on a busy city street forced Owens to react on instinct, and later share on social media.

“Not somebody just tried to snatch my shopping bag in Milan. Out of force of habit, I had it tied around my hand so he couldn’t get it and took off running immediately… but still crazy,” Owens shared about the experience on X. He added, “Not fast at all, bro. His arms were moving faster than his legs, lol. Should’ve seen his face once he realized I turned around and he couldn’t grab it.”

Owens later explained that he had started securing his bags after seeing similar thefts on TikTok, writing, “I’ve seen too many TikToks of that happening so I was prepared,” and joking with fans that there was “no way he could get it off my hand.” He even agreed with one user who suggested he should have tackled the would-be thief, though he admitted the situation ended quickly once the person realized the bag wasn’t coming loose.

But, even before this scare, the trip had already started with a few hiccups.

On Friday, Simone Biles posted an Instagram Story from an airport bar in Germany with the caption, “Stuck in Germany,” as she and Owens waited through travel delays on their way to Italy. And yet, nothing could dampen the excitement of being at the Olympics in Milan.

Once in Milan, the couple was spotted cheering for athletes at the men’s single figure skating event on February 13. Wearing an ivory jacket and white jeans and with a pair of matching stiletto boots, Biles was seated next to Owens, Chicago Bear safety, in the stands when they took in the performances by U.S. skaters Ilia Malinin and Andrew Torgashev. She was also seen near the leaders’ area taking a selfie with Georgian skater Nika Egadze, clearly soaking in the moment as a fan rather than a competitor.

Although she has 11 Olympic medals, Simone Biles said she could never come close to the skill of the skaters. Addressing the crowd, she said, “I can skate, but I cannot do anything that these athletes can do out there tonight. I give them all the props. I’m rooting for them. I’m praying for them. I’m just super excited to watch today.”

Hours after Owens revealed the attempted bag snatching, Biles showed that the couple didn’t let the incident derail their trip, sharing Instagram Stories from a luxury shopping stop in Milan. Posting a mirror selfie inside a boutique, she wrote, “Always spoiling me,” before showing off a customized Bottega Veneta handbag monogrammed with her initials, joking that she didn’t even know the brand offered that option.

Through travel delays and unexpected surprises, Simone Biles and Jonathan Owens continue to enjoy their time together. Yet for fans, one question remains: when will Simone Biles return to competition, and will she be part of the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics?

Simone Biles faces an uncertain return

After her performance at the 2024 Paris Olympics, where she won three gold medals and one silver, Simone Biles contributed to Team USA’s strong showing. Soon after, she stepped back from daily training, choosing to focus on her body, mind, and personal life. Reflecting on this break, she said it was “time to rest your body.”

Since then, Simone has shared that she is embracing life outside competitive gymnastics, spending quality time with loved ones, and exploring new interests. In her own words, she said she is “really trying to enjoy life, to spend time with my husband, go support him at his games, and live my life as a woman.”

At the same time, Simone Biles reflected on the physical toll of the Paris Games, revealing that after the Games, she became sick and felt her body struggling. “My body literally collapsed” during recovery, she admitted. Regarding 2028, Simone said she hopes to be part of the Games, but whether that will be as a competitor or as a spectator remains uncertain. “Whether on the apparatus or in the stands, I still don’t know that,” she said, noting how far away the event feels.

So, for LA 28, Simone has been candid about being unsure. Any comeback, she said, would have to feel right and truly exciting rather than being driven by past success. “For me to come back, it would really have to excite me,” she explained.

Since stepping back from elite competition, Simone Biles has stayed active in different ways. She has taken up ice skating and horseback riding lessons, enjoying physical activities that are fun and less demanding than the grueling routines of elite gymnastics.