Jessica Wanke
The Arizona Republic
Feb. 15, 2005 12:00 AM
Williams, 23, is one of three Arizonans on Special Olympics Team U.S.A. departing Monday to compete in the 2005 World Winter Games in Nagano, Japan.
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| Cori Takemoto Williams/The Arizona Republic Michael Williams of Ahwatukee Foothills leaves Monday to compete in the Special Olympics World Games in Nagano, Japan. He is among three Arizona athletes chosen to the U.S. team. |
"I was really nervous before, but now I'm ready to
take on the world and just do my best that I can do,"
Williams said after a recent pre-Olympic practice at
the Desert Schools Coyotes Center ice rink in
Chandler.
Williams was born with a rare condition,
coincidentally called Williams syndrome, which is
similar to Down syndrome in that it is caused by an
abnormality in the chromosomes.
His condition has not kept him from being active or
from excelling. He has participated in basketball,
volleyball, track and soccer.
"Over the years, I've seen his speed increase and
then also his ability to cross over and even to go
backwards," said his skating coach of seven years,
Karen Hinds, who met Williams when she worked as his
teacher in the special education department at Desert
Vista High School.
The community has played a large part in supporting
Williams, particularly since January 2004 when he was
selected to the Olympic team. The Berman family,
which owns the Desert Schools ice rink, has provided
Williams with free ice time, help training and a
training uniform.
Fund-raisers in and around Ahwatukee have produced
about $3,000 to help Williams' family pay for a trip
to Japan to watch Michael.
"The Special Olympic organization here in Arizona as
well as a lot of the schools and the various
agencies, they do a good job," said William's father,
Michael Williams. "The fact that the community is
getting involved, I think it's a real good thing."
