American gymnast Simone Biles and husband Jonathan Owens in attendance at the Men Single Skating on day seven of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic games at Milano Ice Skating Arena on February 13, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Andreas Rentz/Getty Images)
Simone Biles and Jonathan Owens at the 2026 Winter Olympics.
Jonathan Owens says he was nearly robbed in Milan
He and wife Simone Biles are visiting the city to take in the 2026 Winter Olympics
Owens, a safety for the Chicago Bears, shared on X that the attempted thief didn't have much of a shot at making off with his shopping bag
Jonathan Owens was prepared when he nearly got robbed in Milan, he says.
The Chicago Bears safety and husband to Simone Biles shared a post about a scary moment in the Olympics host city, claiming that he almost had a shopping bag stolen away from him while walking around.
"Not somebody just tried to snatch my shopping bag in Milan, force of habit i had it tied around my hand so he couldn’t get it and took off running immediately….but still crazy," Owens, 30, posted on X on Sunday, Feb. 15.
Several commenters replied, wondering what the potential thief was thinking targeting an NFL player. But Owens said he didn't think the person had actually thought through their plan, and wasn't much of a runner.
"Not fast at all bro, his arms were moving faster than his legs lol Should’ve seen his face once he realized i turned around and he couldn’t grab it," he added.
Owens also said he learned how to protect his purchases thanks to TikTok.
"Honestly i know right, but it was no way he could get it off my hand, I’ve seen too many TikTok’s of that happening so i was prepared," he said, in response to another commenter.
Simone Biles in attendance at the Men Single Skating on day seven of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic games at Milano Ice Skating Arena on February 13, 2026
Simone Biles in attendance at the Men Single Skating on day seven of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic games at Milano Ice Skating Arena on February 13, 2026
Biles, 28, and Owens have been enjoying the 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Olympics all weekend, starting from their surprise appearance at the men's figure skating final on Friday, where the Olympic gymnast was interviewed on the jumbotron.
Biles said she was "just super excited to watch" the figure skaters on a night that turned out to be full of upsets, as American and gold medal favorite Ilia Malinin shocked with multiple falls during his free skate.
The seven-time gold medalist, who has taken up figure skating as she considers whether she'll continue competing in gymnastics or retire from the sport, told the in-arena hosts: "I can skate but I can’t do whatever these athletes are doing tonight.”
To learn more about all the Olympic and Paralympic hopefuls, come to people.com to check out ongoing coverage before, during and after the games. Watch the Milan Cortina Olympics and Paralympics, beginning Feb. 6, on NBC and Peacock.