The Chicago Bears have allowed Jonathan Owens to travel to Paris and be at the Olympic Games to support Simone Biles, the biggest name on the United States gymnastics team.
Owens was expected to be a part of the training camp that the Bears are hosting next week but clearly a conversation has taken place behind closed doors and an agreement for Owens to support his wife in Paris has been reached.
Simone Biles and the gymnastics team in their final training session for Paris
Biles is a seven-time Olympic gold medalist and she has the opportunity to add four more gold medals to her tally in the French capital, with the games getting underway this Friday.
Owens is excused from the Bears’ camp between July 29 and August 3.
Why will Owens be in Paris?
Per ESPN’s Courtney Cronin,Bears head coach Matt Eberflus explained why they’re allowing Owens to skip practice.
“Just because we respect the Olympics. That is a big deal,” Eberflus said. “And he’s just supporting the one he loves the most. And I think that’s so cool that he gets to do that. We welcome that and it’s going to be awesome. Go USA.”
It is a bold move from Owens from a sporting perspective as he has just joined the Bears and has new teammates to gel with and new tactics to learn. Despite that, he is more committed to supporting Biles in Paris.
“No words can describe how proud of you I am baby,” Owens wrote on Instagram after Biles qualified for the U.S. Olympic gymnastics team.
“Just knowing all the work that you put in and everything that you’ve been through, and to still come back and be as dominant as ever, I was speechless. I’m so thankful to be a part of this journey with you, and I can’t wait to be able to watch you out there in Paris.”
