Elijah’s Story

At first, it was just something to try.

When Eric Williams registered his son, Elijah, for Special Olympics in 2007, tennis was simply another sport to test out. Neither of them had any experience, but as soon as Elijah picked up a racquet at Legacy Youth Tennis and Education, something clicked.

“I could see a spark in him,” Eric said. “He gravitated toward tennis. No coaching, no experience, he was just going for it.”

That spark has grown into something far more powerful.

Now 27, Elijah has competed in the Special Olympics Spring Games, Sectionals, and most recently, the Summer Games at Penn State, where he earned gold in both singles and doubles. And while medals are exciting, Eric is quick to note: “It was never about winning. It was about inclusion, making friends, and building a network. Tennis gave him that.”

Jerry Colston, a longtime Special Olympics coach with 15 years of experience, has watched Elijah grow from a young beginner into a confident champion.

With the Adaptive Qualifier and a US Open Net Generation on-court experience in the coming months and the World Games in Santiago, Chile in 2027, the family’s dreams continue to grow through tennis: building opportunities, sharing Elijah’s journey, and lifting up others in the process.

“I love tennis,” Elijah said with a smile.

And it is with that sentiment and joy that Eric’s goal in creating Project Elijah continues its impact on the Williams’ family and many others.

“We always wanted to grow tennis on a larger scale,” he said. “Not just for the sake of tennis, but for those with autism or unique abilities.”