Simone Biles’ “Dancing With The Stars” performance Monday night brought the audience to tears.
Contestants were asked to share their most significant life moments as part of the “Most Memorable Year Week” on the ABC dancing competition show. The 20-year-old Olympic gymnast emotionally recalled being adopted by her grandparents after her mother placed her in foster care when she was just three.
“My parents saved me. They’ve set huge examples of how to treat other people and they’ve been there to support me since day one,” she said in a video ahead of her performance. “There’s nothing I can say to them to thank them enough. Even though there’s no right words, maybe dance will say it for me.”
Biles was adopted by her grandparents, along with her younger sister. Nellie and Ron Biles, who she calls “mom” and “dad,” were in the audience and came out on stage after her performance with tears streaming down their face.
“Growing up, my biological mom was suffering from drug and alcohol abuse, and she was in and out of jail,” Biles said. “I never had mom to run to. But I do remember always being hungry and afraid … I remember them saying, ‘Ok, you know how you called us grandma and grandpa? You can call us mom and dad now, if you want to. I was like, ‘Yeah, I can do that.'”
Biles channeled her experience into a beautiful Viennese waltz, which put her in second place for the night.
