Simone Biles has added another meaningful tattoo to her collection, this time paying tribute to her husband, NFL player Jonathan Owens. The Olympic gymnast, who has been on her Gold Over America Tour, took a break after her Arizona show to get the special ink.
Biles visited tattoo artist Sydney Smith, known for her fine-line work, for a late-night session. During the appointment, the 27-year-old athlete got two tattoos, one of which is a delicate “J” — a nod to her husband’s first initial — on her left hand’s ring finger. This subtle design complements the couple’s matching tribute, as Owens also sports a tattoo of Biles’ first initial on his ring finger, which he revealed in July 2024, shortly before Biles left for the 2024 Paris Olympics.
But that wasn’t the only tattoo Biles added during her session. She also got “Made in Heaven” inked on the back of her neck, further commemorating her bond with Owens. The sentiment behind the tattoo speaks to their deep connection, a love story that began when they met on the dating app Raya in 2020. After dating for nearly two years, the couple became engaged in February 2022 and tied the knot in April 2023.
Owens, a Chicago Bears player, has a much larger tattoo of Biles’ initial, written in script, whereas Biles opted for a more minimalist sans serif design. The difference in style between the tattoos highlights the couple’s individuality while still celebrating their unity.
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Smith, the tattoo artist, shared that it took about an hour and a half to complete each tattoo. She described Biles as a dream client, telling TMZ that the gymnast was “great” to work with during the session.
This isn’t the first time Biles and Owens have marked their love with matching ink. Before their wedding, Biles revealed they had gotten matching “444” tattoos, symbolizing their commitment to one another. She explained the significance on her Instagram Story, writing, “4better, 4worse, 4ever.” Biles placed her “444” tattoo on the inside of her left elbow, but it’s unclear where Owens has his.
For Biles, tattoos are not only personal but also a way of marking important moments in her life. She got her very first tattoo shortly after her historic performance at the 2016 Rio Olympics, where she won four gold medals and one bronze. To commemorate that achievement, Biles had the Olympic rings tattooed on the inside of her right arm, a proud symbol of her hard-earned success.
Since then, Biles has continued to add meaningful pieces to her body art collection. Some of her other tattoos include her birth year, 1997, above her right elbow, the word “golden” on her left wrist, a series of butterflies on her hand, and an “XO” on her inner lip.
One of her most significant and personal tattoos, however, is the phrase “and still I rise,” which is inked on her collarbone. The quote, a tribute to Maya Angelou’s iconic poem, holds special meaning for Biles. She got it in 2021, following a tumultuous period during the Tokyo Olympics when she withdrew from several events due to mental health struggles and a condition known as “the twisties,” a phenomenon where gymnasts lose their sense of direction mid-air.
In her Netflix documentary, Biles opened up about the tattoo, explaining its deep personal resonance. “Before I got this tattoo, it was a saying that I loved, obviously because of Maya Angelou. And I was like, ‘and still I rise’ is perfect because I feel like that’s kind of the epitome of my career and my life story because I’ve always risen to the occasion.”
Reflecting on her journey, Biles added, “Even after all of the traumas and the downfalls, I’ve always risen. Every comeback that I’ve had, no matter what happens, I still come back and still try to do everything full force, full difficulty — like even after Tokyo, I’m still here. So, still I rise.”
As Biles continues to inspire fans both on and off the mat, her tattoos stand as permanent reminders of the milestones and struggles that have shaped her, including her deep love for her husband, Jonathan Owens.
