When Serena Williams stepped away from professional tennis in September 2022, the world paused to honor the legacy of a 23-time Grand Slam champion, a trailblazer whose name is synonymous with excellence. But for Williams, her most profound victories were not won on the courts of Wimbledon or the US Open—they were found in the everyday joys and challenges of motherhood.

Today, Serena Williams and her husband, tech entrepreneur Alexis Ohanian, are the proud parents of two daughters: Olympia and Adira. Their family story is one of love, resilience, and discovery—a journey that continues to inspire millions.

The Arrival of Olympia: A Sidekick from the Start

Serena and Alexis welcomed their first daughter, Alexis Olympia Ohanian Jr.—affectionately known as Olympia—on September 1, 2017, at St. Mary’s Medical Center in West Palm Beach, Florida. The announcement, shared with the world via Instagram, radiated pure joy: “Welcome, Alexis Olympia Ohanian, Jr., we’re so happy to meet you … Our little girl is already mama’s perfect sidekick.”

This sidekick status was no exaggeration. Olympia’s journey began in the spotlight, with her mother’s pregnancy famously revealed through a Snapchat photo at 20 weeks. Williams later told Vanity Fair she discovered she was expecting just before the 2017 Australian Open—a tournament she would go on to win, making headlines as the champion who played while pregnant.

“I did a double take and my heart dropped. Like literally dropped,” Williams recalled. “Oh my God, this can’t be—I’ve got to play a tournament. How am I going to play the Australian Open? I had planned on winning in Wimbledon this year.”

The couple chose not to learn the baby’s sex, but Ohanian shared on Jimmy Kimmel Live! that they both suspected they were having a girl. “Serena won the Australian Open while pregnant. And she remarked that she feels like it has to be a girl because everything that that baby went through and handled like a champ, only a woman could be strong enough to take on,” he said.

Williams has spoken candidly about her complicated birthing experience, including an emergency cesarean section and postpartum surgeries. “My whole life I’ve been physically pushing my body to the limits,” she told PEOPLE. “And this is the one time where I couldn’t control anything. I couldn’t push my body. My body pushed to its maximum. That was so hard.”

Olympia’s World: Creativity, Curiosity, and a Hint of Stardom

From the start, Olympia has been encouraged to explore a world of possibilities. By age four, she was taking piano lessons and showing a strong love for music. “She likes tennis, but I don’t know. Honestly, she likes playing piano,” Williams revealed on Jimmy Kimmel Live!. “When she was in my belly, I played a lot of piano music.”

Olympia’s interests are as diverse as her parents’ careers. Ballet, soccer, virtual reality gaming, and golf lessons with dad have all featured in her childhood. Ohanian told PEOPLE, “I do think she’s a mix of both creative and athletic right now. Mini golf was her thing a year or so ago, and then we got her proper golfing lessons, and she’s loved it. On the creative side, she loves to dance. Maybe that’s where she’ll land—somewhere in the creative end and athletic … Like any parent, we just want her to have fun, and we’re fortunate enough to be able to expose her to anything she could be interested in.”

Olympia’s fashion sense is already making headlines. Williams shared that her daughter sets out their outfits before bed, picking colors and even shoes for her mom. The mother-daughter duo are often seen twinning in photos, from Paris Fashion Week to the cover of Vogue.

Despite her tennis lineage, Olympia’s relationship with the sport is nuanced. “She doesn’t actually like to play tennis too much,” Williams admitted on CBS News’ Person to Person. “That’s a little disappointing for me, but she’s actually really good at it. So we are trying to figure out a way to get her to play a little bit.”

Even if Olympia doesn’t choose a career in sports, she’s already a co-owner of two professional teams: Angel City Football Club and Los Angeles Golf Club. Ohanian said, “Right now all Olympia knows is that Angel City FC is our team, and she loves cheering for them. I think as she gets older, maybe she’ll come to see the different layers to it.”

Williams and Ohanian do not celebrate Olympia’s birthday due to their faith as Jehovah’s Witnesses, but they still mark special occasions with unique experiences. For her sixth birthday, Ohanian took Olympia to Home Depot for a day of painting and building a microscope, sharing, “I gave Olympia the ‘best day ever’ this weekend, where she could pick whatever she wanted to do. It started with building a microscope. I’m so proud. I love this time with our (NEW) 6 year old.”

Adira: The Mighty Newcomer

On August 15, 2023, Williams and Ohanian welcomed their second daughter, Adira River Ohanian. Ohanian shared the news on Instagram: “I’m grateful to report our house is teaming with love: a happy & healthy newborn girl and happy & healthy mama … you’ve now given me another incomparable gift—you’re the GMOAT. I’ll never forget the moment I introduced @olympiaohanian to her baby sister.”

Adira’s name carries special meaning. “Adira is a girl’s name of Hebrew origin and means ‘mighty,’ ‘strong,’ and ‘majestic,’” Williams explained on Instagram. “Adira is the feminine form of the classic name Adir. It is a Biblical name, meaning ‘Strong One.’”

The pregnancy was first announced at the Met Gala in May 2023, with Williams sharing a photo captioned, “Was so excited when Anna Wintour invited the 3 of us to the Met Gala.” The couple later revealed the sex of their new baby with a dazzling drone display.

Olympia was especially excited about becoming a big sister. “She’s been wanting this,” Ohanian told PEOPLE. “She’s been praying and asking about this for quite some time, so she’s very ready.”

As a second-time parent, Ohanian felt more confident. “We’re not first-time parents anymore … I feel more confident about having a newborn, all of those things that I just had zero confidence about with Olympia because I’d never even been around babies at that point in my life.”

Williams gave fans an inside look at Adira’s nursery, formerly Olympia’s playroom, now transformed with a red-and-white crib topped by a gold crown and whimsical hot air balloons. “They only had 6 weeks to make it … And they delivered! I literally had Adira the next day! Thanks for making my nursery room dream come true ❤️,” Williams wrote.

Sisters, Side by Side

Olympia has embraced her role as big sister, with Williams frequently sharing sweet moments between the girls on Instagram. Their bond is evident, whether they’re playing together or simply sharing quiet time at home.

Serena’s Perspective: Joy Beyond the Trophy Case

In an April 2024 interview with Byrdie, Williams was asked what brings her the most happiness. Her answer was simple and profound: “My kids.” She admitted, “I can’t say that a Wimbledon trophy holds a candle to volunteering at my kid’s school.”

Williams hopes her daughters see her many passions—from tennis to beauty—and learn that they can lead dynamic careers and lives across their interests. She’s open about the challenges of motherhood but embraces the joy it brings. “I’ve been so focused on my career my whole life, but when I had a family and got married, I realized that there’s so much more to life. And that was great,” she told PEOPLE.