U.S. diver Jordan Windle will compete in the 10M platform at the Tokyo Olympics today.
As AsAmNews previously reported, Jerry Windle adopted his son from a Cambodian orphanage when he was just 18 months old.
Now 22, Jordan says he will be diving for his gay dad who will be back in California.
“I tell everyone, when they ask me why I dive, I dive purely for my dad and how much he loves watching me,” Jordan told Today, according to Out. “Without him making all the sacrifices that he has, and his love and support the whole time we’ve been together, I really wouldn’t be where I am today. I have him to thank for everything, all my accomplishments. It’s been an amazing journey with him, and we’re still rolling.”
Dad Jerry didn’t think it would be possible for him to have a child. Then he read an article about a single man adopting a Cambodian child and decided to give the orphanage a call.
“I called the agency and just said, ‘Is it possible for a single person to adopt?’ and they said, ‘Yes,'” Windle recalled to Good Morning America. “I got a packet of information and an application about a week later and I took probably three days and filled out every single document, got fingerprinted, filled out my background information, I did everything.”
Windle qualified for the 10M after coming in second at the Olympic trials in June.
According to Swimming World, he is the first diver of Cambodian descent to ever qualify for the Olympics. Four time Olympic gold medalist Greg Louganis is a mentor to Windle.
Jordan soon adopted the nickname “Little Louganis” after winning his first major championship at age 9.
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