Excitement is beginning to replace nervousness for speed skater Michael Williams of Ahwatukee Foothills, who is about to put his seven years of training to the test.

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.

"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."