"Mommy's waving at me" - Serena Williams' daughter Olympia squeals in delight over American joining Rafael Nadal to hold Olympic torch in Paris
Serena Williams' daughter Olympia had an adorable reaction to the American's boat ride with the Olympic torch at the opening ceremony of the 2024 Paris Olympics. Alongside Rafael Nadal, nine-time gold medalist Carl Lewis and five-time gold medalist Nadia Comaneci, Williams played a special role in the lighting of the Olympic cauldron.
Williams was accompanied by her husband Alexis Ohanian and her elder daughter Olympia in the French capital for the commencement of the prestigious event. The 23-time Grand Slam champion, who has won four Olympic gold medals, turned heads at the opening ceremony in a chic red bodycon dress and blonde curls.
The 42-year-old chronicled the family's experience on TikTok, documenting the rainy environment, Rafael Nadal's arrival with the Olympic torch and the breathtaking views of the Eiffel Tower from their boat on the River Seine.
Serena Williams also captured her daughter Olympia's adorably enthusiastic reaction to spotting her on the boat.
"There's mommy! I see mommy. Mommy, wave at me," Olympia said.
The six-year-old was particularly thrilled to witness Nadal hand over the torch to Williams and squealed in delight as the former World No. 1 waved to the camera.
"Mommy's holding the torch! She's waving at me," Olympia squealed.
After Rafael Nadal passed the Olympic flame to Amelie Mauresmo to continue the iconic relay, Serena Williams posed with Nadia Comaneci, Carl Lewis and the 22-time Grand Slam champion. She raved about the unforgettable experience, with the Spaniard sharing the sentiment.
"We did it. This is something I'll never forget," she said.
Serena Williams' husband Alexis Ohanian was mistaken for her "umbrella holder" during Paris Olympics opening ceremony
Serena Williams' arrival at the opening ceremony of the 2024 Paris Olympics caused a stir on social media, largely due to a gaffe by a Eurosport commentator.
The commentator, who was seemingly unfamiliar with the American's husband, Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian, humorously referred to him as Williams' "umbrella holder."
"She looks absolutely incredible. She’s got someone just behind us holding an umbrella. Those are the levels you aspire to, to have an actual umbrella holder behind you," the commentator said.
However, Ohanian took the debacle in stride, hilariously calling himself the 23-time Grand Slam champion's "personal umbrella holder" while sharing a glimpse of their time in Paris on social media.
"Olympia. Serena. Serena's Personal Umbrella Holder. 😂 Let the games begin! I'll be watching a lot of T&F to soak up @athlos inspiration. 🥇," Ohanian captioned his Instagram post.
While at the opening ceremony, Williams also expressed her delight at Coco Gauff becoming the first tennis player to carry the Team USA flag during the proceedings, disclosing that she was "very happy" for the 20-year-old.