Simone Biles shone bright for her trip down the red carpet at the 2026 ESPY Awards Wednesday night, in New York. The athlete attended alongside her husband, pro football star Jonathan Owens.
The gymnast popped on a pair of champagne sandal heels featuring rounded open toes and thin stiletto heels that looked to be about 3 to 4 inches. The sparkling footwear featured a thick strap across the toes, transitioning into thinner straps that secured the shoe to Biles’ ankles with buckle closures. Opting for a monochrome style, Biles also wore a champagne-colored gown with a dramatic high-low hem that swept the floor.
Gilbert Flores
Gracing the ESPYs red carpet back in 2025, Biles wore a custom Zac Posen ensemble made from the athlete’s favorite Athleta piece, the Transcend Open Back Tee. Using the same four-way stretch performance fabric, Posen created a full-length form-fitting navy blue dress with a square neckline, open back and beaded accents. While they weren’t visible, Biles’ footwear hailed from Aquazzura, a designer she tends to gravitate towards for many of her red carpet appearances.
Speaking of shoe favorites, the gymnast has a few she’s constantly reaching for. For casual occasions, you’ll spot Biles in Nike sneakers, a brand she served as an ambassador for from 2015 to 2021. For formal events, heels from Kate Spade, Christian Louboutin, Jimmy Choo and Steve Madden, usually featuring a platform sole to offer her a boost.
A closer look at Simone Biles’ shoes.
Gilbert Flores
The 2026 ESPY Awards were held Wednesday at the David H. Koch Theater at Lincoln Center, bringing the awards back to New York for the first time since 1999. “Saturday Night Live” cast member Marcello Hernández hosted, while Jalen Brunson and Shohei Ohtani led the nominees with three nods each. This year’s show also introduced three social-only categories, including Best Tunnel Fit, which put athletes’ pregame style in the awards mix alongside Best Celebration and Best Sports Card.
