Simone Biles
2016 Rio Olympics - Artistic Gymnastics - Final - Women's Team Final - Rio Olympic Arena - Rio de Janeiro, Brazil - 09/08/2016. Simone Biles (USA) of USA competes on the beam during the women's team final. Reuters/Dylan Martinez

Olympic gold medalist Simone Biles has stolen the hearts of many, including her biggest crush, Zac Efron's. And while the public has been watching their innocent relationship blossom, Simone’s mother has been battling the media’s negative portrayal of her.

Simone’s admiration of Zac was first made public when the 19-year-old gymnast was a guest on “The Ellen Degeneres Show” in March. After Ellen shared Simone’s accomplishments, which includes the most decorated American female gymnast in history, they discussed something that all teenage girls have: celebrity crushes.

With a smile on her face, Simone admitted that she had a crush on Zac because he was good looking. After the confession, Ellen presented her with a leotard decorated with photos of Zac.

Then on Aug. 8, Zac went on to his Twitter account to declare his admiration for the multi-awarded gymnast.

To this, Simone simply said thanks, and that she hopes Zac will watch the Team Final. Zac then replied in relative grandeur.

As the public has been watching their sweet and thoughtful exchanges, Simone’s mother, Shannon Biles, has had to fight off the negative light the media has thrown on her.

In a video taken by TMZ, Shannon clarified that she has been sober since 2007. She added that she did not appreciate how her father “threw [her] under the bus” in his interview with NBC as well. “He didn’t have to be so harsh about it,” Simone said.

Shannon admitted that she did have her troubles in the past but is adamant that those things should stay in the past. She then went on to say that she sees and speaks with Simone whenever they have the time. She even briefly touched on the times that they had the chance to be together as a family.

Shannon’s two daughters were taken from her and placed in foster care because of her battle against drug and alcohol addiction. When Simone was three, she and her younger sister were officially adopted by their maternal grandparents, Ron and Nellie Biles.

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