"Mommy's Holding The Torch": Olympia Cheers On Mum Serena Williams During Ceremony

Despite not competing, Serena Williams is still making a splash at the Olympics 2024 Opening Ceremony in Paris. Williams, widely regarded as one of the greatest tennis players ever, was present for the lighting of the Olympic Torch. Alongside her family, including husband Alexis Ohanian and oldest daughter Olympia, Williams, 42, joined the festivities and walked the red carpet ahead of the Opening Ceremony.

Interestingly, William's daughter Olympia is named after the Olympics. When the little one was asked what she was looking forward to at the Olympics, "Every one of them," she sweetly answered."Well, that makes two of us, kid—we can't wait for all the Olympics", Serena added.

Olympia's prideful eyes are Williams' success

The famed Olympic torch made its way to the 2024 Summer Games cauldron with a little help from a few dozen famous faces.

After being handed off by everyone from French soccer star Zinedine Zidane, basketball player Tony Parker, tennis champs Serena Williams and Rafael Nadal and more, French judoka Teddy Riner and track and field sprinter Marie-José Pérec ultimately did the honours, lighting a hot-air balloon-inspired cauldron at the Paris Summer Games opening ceremony on Friday, July 26.

Olympia had an extremely adorable reaction to the Olympic Torch after spotting her mom on the boat. William even recorded the enthusiastic reaction when Olympia spotted her. "There's mommy! I see Mommy. Mommy, wave at me," Olympia screamed.

The 6-year-old was specifically thrilled to witness Nadal hand over the torch to Williams. "Mommy's holding the torch! She's waving at me," Olympia squealed most delightfully.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by The Female Quotient® (@femalequotient)

Serena started making the Paris scene of July 25 at the Prelude to the Olympics at Fondation Louis Vuitton, where the couture was haute and star sightings were plentiful. "The Olympics in Paris is incredible," Serena, who also happens to be a four-time gold medalist, told NBC Sports before they took their seats at the venue set up outside the Eiffel Tower, the Parade of Nations making its way by boats along the River Seine this year instead of unfolding inside a stadium.

"We did it. This is something I'll never forget," Serena said as she rambled about the unforgettable experience with the Spaniard sharing the sentiment.

With this, Williams was able to set an example for thousands of mothers and daughters around the globe. The amount of pride Olympia held in her eyes for her mother will always be indescribable. The way a mother can propel her daughter towards accomplishing limitless dreams and achieving unparalleled success is a constant pathway of motivation like no other. 

Throughout her illustrious career, Williams earned four Olympic gold medals: one in the women’s singles at London 2012 and three in the women’s doubles — during Sydney 2000, Beijing 2008 and London 2012 — with her sister, Venus Williams.

She left tennis after a legendary career in 2022, nearly a year before welcoming her second daughter, Adira.