When 10-year-old Burt joined the Harvard men’s tennis team in March 2024, he quickly found a place where he belonged. Living with cerebral palsy hasn’t slowed down Burt’s passion for sports or his ability to inspire those around him. From cheering courtside in his favorite Harvard gear and homemade signs for his team to sending motivational messages and videos before matches, Burt has become a true teammate. In his eyes, the Harvard men’s tennis team is invincible.
The team has embraced Burt just as much as he’s embraced them. They’ve celebrated holidays together at his house, kept in touch through email, and even taught him one of their most important lessons: “It’s not about winning or losing, it’s about the next point.” With each interaction, Burt has grown as a teammate, sportsman, and tennis player.
At the heart of this bond is student-athlete Alan Yim, who became the driving force behind welcoming Burt into the Harvard men’s tennis family, Burt’s mom. Jordyne, said. “Rather than take it easy as a senior, Alan made a huge effort welcoming Burt onto the team right up until graduation, organizing events like stretching and hitting with the team, having Burt stand in the team area and even down on the court.”
Jordyne remembered a time Alan reinforced just how much a part of the team Burt is. “When an NCAA official said ‘No kids,’ Alan and the team all rallied around Burt, saying, ‘He’s on our team,’” Jordyne said. “Burt just beamed.”
Alan laid the groundwork for the underclassmen to not only accept Burt but to embrace his fully, “rallying his teammates to include and support Burt, passing the torch and setting Burt up for a great year this year,” Jordyne said.
Led by Alan, the entire Harvard men’s lacrosse team is there for Burt, emailing, FaceTiming, eating at the dining hall, taking him out for birthday dinners—even during midterms—doing PT and rehab exercises together, and helping Burt through wearing a new cast. “I sense that Alan really led the team in the effort and set the stage for a great Team IMPACT relationship for Burt going forward,” Jordyne said.
Though Alan has since graduated, the culture of inclusion and belonging he helped build continues to thrive. Burt’s bond with Alan and the entire Harvard team has become more than just a match—it’s a friendship that has transformed Burt’s world, and one that will stay with the Crimson tennis family for years to come.
