Four-time Olympic champion Simone Biles said "she had never been so nervous" as she married NFL star Jonathan Owens in a beautiful beachfront ceremony in Mexico on Saturday.
The pair, both dressed in white, tied the knot in Cabo and enjoyed "the best night of their lives" with their 144 guests beside the ocean in the stunning Cabo San Lucas.
Legendary gymnast Biles and Houston Texans defensive back Owens, aged 26 and 27 respectively, met in 2020 on the exclusive Raya dating app and they got engaged on Valentine's Day in 2020. More than a year of planning followed and seven-time Olympic medalist admits she was feeling the pressure when the big day finally arrived.
"I actually felt so sick the entire day, and when it was almost time to walk, my heart was beating out of my chest," she told Vogue. "I’ve never been so nervous before in my life."
"(But) I felt confident walking down the aisle. Seeing Jonathan at the altar was a dream. Our guests were cheering for everyone. I was shocked by the love in the air. The ceremony was so beautiful and dreamy.
“Jonathan and I just tuned into each other and blocked everyone out. I fell in love with him all over.
"Whales were jumping out of the water as our ceremony started. Whale season is over, by the way. It sprinkled for two minutes after we got married, which is good luck, and we had a full moon. It was truly the most magical.
"I want to do it again. We had the best night of our lives. It was a 12 out of 10."
The newlyweds officially said I do several weeks before their big day, having a private civil ceremony at the Harris County Courthouse in Houston, Texas before heading across the border for their glamourous wedding in Cabo.
Biles, standing at just 4ft 8in, is among the greatest ever gymnasts across a variety of disciplines, winning the first of her 16 world championship gold medals at the age of 16. She also has seven Olympic medals, including a sensational haul of four golds from the 2016 games in Rio de Janeiro.
However, at the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo – which were delayed by a year due to the COVID-19 pandemic – Biles struggled and withdrew "to focus on her mental health". She has not competed since, but Biles shot down suggestions she had retired last year, adding she continues to "work on my mental health".
Texans safety Owens was undrafted after leaving Missouri Western University in 2018, joining the Arizona Cardinals as a free agent. He signed for the Texans a year later and he has become a prominent contributor on defense at NRG Stadium, featuring in all 17 regular-season games and completing 125 tackles with one sack. He is a free agent heading into next season.
