"When Serena Williams sees Olympia with a soccer ball, she gets jealous" - When American's husband Alexis Ohanian shared his aspirations for daughter
Serena Williams' husband Alexis Ohanian once opened up about his hopes for their daughter Olympia's future. The Reddit co-founder reflected on Olympia potentially inheriting his entrepreneurial spirit or following in Williams' footsteps by becoming a professional athlete.
After winning her 23rd and final Grand Slam title at the 2017 Australian Open while pregnant, Williams gave birth to her daughter Olympia in September of that same year. Subsequently, she and Ohanian tied the knot in a lavish ceremony in November.
The couple introduced their daughter to the worlds of sports and business early, including her as a co-owner in their investments in Angel City FC and Los Angeles Golf Club. They also nurtured Olympia's interest in sports, frequently sharing glimpses of her playing golf, displaying her passion for soccer and hitting the tennis court on social media.
In a 2020 interview with CNN, Alexis Ohanian opened up about his efforts to change the world for their daughter, expressing his desire for her to follow in his entrepreneurial footsteps and become a CEO or a startup founder when she's older.
"I have 16 years, give or take, to have enough of an impact," Ohanian said. "I would love for my daughter to be a CEO and a startup founder."
Ohanian also shared his aspiration to see Olympia become a professional athlete, revealing that Serena Williams even became "jealous" when she witnessed their daughter's love for soccer. However, the Reddit co-founder reassured that Olympia was very skilled at tennis as well.
"I would love for her to be a professional athlete. Serena admits that when she sees Olympia running around with a soccer ball, having a great time playing with me, she gets a little jealous. But don’t worry, Olympia is really great with a racket, too," he added.
Serena Williams on daughter Olympia's athleticism: "Even Venus Williams was like, 'That kid has more talent than you and I combined' and she’s not lying"
Serena Williams has spoken highly about her daughter Olympia's remarkable athletic abilities. In a June 2024 interview with the New York Times, the 23-time Grand Slam champion expressed amazement at her daughter's skills, saying her prowess was "not even humanly possible."
The former World No. 1 revealed that her sister, fellow tennis legend Venus Williams, even believed that Olympia's talent surpassed both of theirs combined.
"It worked out well. [Laughs] But what do I see? The 8-month-old is so tiny, but Olympia is such a bright light, and she’s so athletic, to the point where it’s just not even humanly possible," Serena Williams said.
"Even Venus, she was like, "That kid has more talent than you and I combined,” and she’s not lying. So I can see how my dad may have seen some potential in us," she added.
Serena Williams also disclosed that she had entrusted her father Richard with "harnessing" Olympia's potential, admitting that she was too "soft and nice" to coach her daughter herself.