When A Man Adopted An Orphaned Boy, He Had No Idea His Son Would Make History

Life didn’t start out too well for the two-year-old that Florida native Jerry Windle adopted at the turn of the century. Then known as Pisey, the youngster was living in a Cambodian orphanage at the time, half-starved and suffering from a chronic infection. So few could have predicted the history-making journey that they were both about to make.

Parenting dream

As he told TV show Good Morning America in 2021 Jerry had always dreamed of being a father. He said, “That was something just innately part of who I was.” But back in the 1990s Jerry believed that his status as a single man would prevent him from achieving his ambitions of parenthood.

Fresh hope

Jerry admitted that he’d been despondent about this situation during his 20s. All the same, he eventually began to accept that fatherhood was likely to be out of reach. Yet a trip to the doctor’s in his mid-30s ended up giving him fresh hope that having a kid was still a possibility.

Light-bulb moment

Yes, while waiting to see a medic for an unrelated issue, Jerry noticed a magazine article about a single man who’d gone through the adoption process. And suddenly a light-bulb moment occurred. He told Good Morning America (GMA), “I called the agency [named in the article] and just said, ‘Is it possible for a single person to adopt?’ and they said, ‘Yes.’”

Little darling

Jerry certainly didn’t waste any time. Within a week he’d received and sent off an application to become an adoptive parent. Soon after, Jerry was informed about a youngster living in an orphanage in Cambodia, whose name Pisey translated as ‘little darling.’ The aspiring father later claimed he instantly knew the boy was destined to be his son.

History books

In his GMA interview Jerry said, “It was done the second I opened the envelope and saw that photograph. I sent a photo of me and asked them to give it to him in a necklace and explain to him that I was his daddy and was going to be coming to get him.” Little did Jerry know that this fateful decision would end up with the duo forging a path into the history books.

Cambodian connection

Speaking to newspaper USA Today in 2021 Jerry explained that he also felt a connection with Pisey’s homeland. You see, the aspiring father had previously served as a military officer. He explained, “I had a strong affinity to Cambodia because of the atrocities that happened with the Khmer Rouge and what happened during the Vietnam War.”

Passed away

The boy was discovered as a baby outside an orphanage in Phnom Penh in a basket. According to reports his parents had both passed away within 12 months of his birth. The staff at Chom Chao Women and Children’s Vocational orphanage then looked after him until Jerry came into the picture and changed both their lives forever.

Every sacrifice

In a 2021 interview with TV show Today, Jerry explained the conditions in which he found the youngster during his visit to Cambodia. The father said, “He was two years old but he was 16 pounds. I didn’t know if he would live or die. I promised him that I would do everything that I could, that he wouldn’t ever have to suffer again. I would make every sacrifice I could as a parent to get him every opportunity.”

Comforting gesture

And it turns out there was a reason why the orphanage had named him Pisey. As Jerry told USA Today, “They said they did that because he was a very... [tactile] child who liked to be cuddled, and he always wanted someone to hold him.” The father-to-be then further explained the heartwarming way in which he had tried his best to comfort the child at the time.

Bring him home

Jerry made a necklace featuring two tiny framed photos. One of the pictures was of himself and the other was of the boy. He explained, “I sent it to the orphanage and asked them if they could give him this necklace and talk to him about his daddy and how his daddy’s going to come and bring him home one day.”

Best dad

Just five months after his trip to Cambodia, Jerry was able to bring the boy, who he renamed Jordan, back with him to America. He recalled to GMA, “When I held him in my arms that first moment, I made a promise to him that I would be the best dad I could possibly be. I wanted his youth to be filled with wonder and amazement. That has been my mission from Day One.”

Natural gift

It’s fair to say that Jordan inspired plenty of wonder and amazement on his own. Yes, the youngster proved he had a natural gift for diving when he attended a Fort Lauderdale summer camp as a seven-year-old. This particular camp was centered on aquatic sports and after just a single day international competition was being touted as part of his future.

Dive drive

Jerry told GMA, “They let them jump off the diving board one day and when I dropped him off again, the guy who was running the camp asked if he could talk to me. He said, ‘You need to get this child into diving... He will be a national champion one day. He may even be an Olympian one day.’”

Sporting pioneer

And if you happened to watch the Tokyo Olympics in 2021 you’ll know that the coach was spot-on. Yes, the Jordan Windle who competed in the men’s 10-meter platform final is the same Jordan Windle who spent much of his early life in a Cambodian orphanage! Not only is the sportsman now an official Olympian, he’s also a trailblazer!

National success

The man who predicted Jordan’s success so early on was Tim O’Brien. You may remember his father, Dr. Ron O’Brien, who guided Greg Louganis to no fewer than four Olympic diving gold medals. Astonishingly, within just a year of diving into a pool for the first time, Jordan had achieved victory at America’s junior championships!

Olympic dream

Jordan’s winning streak didn’t end there, either. He went on to triumph another five times as a junior, managed seven wins in senior categories and also scooped a couple of National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) titles. Jordan also moved to North Carolina to help make his Olympic dream become a reality. There, he was coached by Duke University’s Nunzio Esposto, who has nothing but positive things to say about his former student. 

Coach's dream

Speaking to GMA, Esposto said, “It’s a coach’s dream to work with a kid like that who loves his sport. He has the drive. He has the determination and he loves to dive. If you watch him, he’s always smiling.” The coach was also impressed with Jordan’s maturity and willingness to be a team player.

Vital role

A proud Esposto added, “He was constantly helping other athletes with their diving, and there was a short stint where he helped me coach some of the younger kids with the lesson program that I have. And so just all of that is pure love of the sport.” The coach also recognized early on the vital role that Jordan’s father had played in his success.

Great family

Esposto revealed, “Jerry was always so supportive. He was willing to travel, willing to take time off his job to be sure he was at Jordan’s meets. He was very trusting in letting me do my job and letting Jordan do his thing and knowing that we had his support. They’re a great family all around.”

Cambodian return

Jerry could never be accused of being a pushy father, either. Although he remained supportive of Jordan’s love of the pool, he was also keen to ensure that his son took an interest in his heritage. And in the mid-2010s the pair headed back to Cambodia, a place neither had visited since the adoption process had gone through 14 years earlier.

Diving exhibition

This was a chance for Jordan to show off his diving skills in his homeland, too. The youngster was competing at an exhibition event in the country, and its natives couldn’t get enough of what they saw. Jerry told GMA, “People in Cambodia really believe that Jordan was meant to bring light.”

No unanswered questions

Jerry further explained to USA Today why he felt it was so important for his son to be aware of his past. He said, “I always wanted Jordan to have transparency, because I didn’t want to have unanswered questions when he was an adult. And so I shared with him from the very beginning his birth story and his adoption story.”

National hero

Jordan may have gained national hero status but he didn’t become an overnight Olympics sensation. In fact, he failed to land a spot in Team USA in his first two trials. It was only when the diver finished in runner-up position during the trial for the 10-meter platform discipline in June 2021 that he finally fulfilled his Olympic destiny.

Coach's goosebumps

And Jordan’s former coach was just as ecstatic as the diver’s dad when he did. Evan Lisette told USA Today, “As I watched it live on TV, I just remember standing up and putting my hands on my head, just as his father did. Followed by absolute goosebumps with the realization that Jordan just earned the title ‘Olympian.’ Pure excitement and a few tears of joy.”

Give it all

Sadly, due to global events Jerry wasn’t able to see his son compete at the Olympics in person. But he told GMA that he had little doubts Jordan would do himself proud. Jerry said, “His intention is to go out there and give it all that he’s got and I couldn’t ask for anything more than that. I can’t wait to watch the rest of his story unfold because I know it’s just beginning.”

So blessed

But no matter what happened in the pool at the Tokyo Games, Jerry insisted that he would always be proud of Jordan. Referring to his experiences as a single father, he added, “I’m more blessed that he’s my son. As a person, I’m more blessed than anything I've done for him.”

Diving for dad

And Jordan was just as gushing about his father in an interview with Today ahead of his Summer Games debut. The Olympian had said, “I tell everyone, when they ask me why I dive, I dive purely for my dad and how much he loves watching me. 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.”

Amazing journey

The compliments continued with Jordan adding, “I have him to thank for everything, all my accomplishments. It’s been an amazing journey with him, and we’re still rolling.” The diver also admitted that it would be strange not seeing his dad in the crowd spurring him on, but that he didn’t think his performance would be affected.

Put on a show

Jordan had gone on to add, “I wish he was there, but that doesn’t really change what I’m going there to do: to have fun, show off a little bit, and put on a show for everyone. That’s going to be my intention and I’m hopefully going to make him proud.”

Flying the flag

As well as wanting to make Jerry hold his head high, Jordan also revealed that he had hoped to make his Cambodian homeland burst with pride. The diver had got his arm inked with the country’s flag before heading off to Tokyo as a clear sign he hadn’t forgotten his roots. Jordan told Today he was representing Cambodia just as much as Team USA.

First Cambodian

Thanks to his Cambodian descent, Jordan also made history when he qualified for the Olympics. That’s right: the sportsman is the first-ever diver born in the country to make the Summer Games. Jordan had also previously entered the record books at the age of just 12 when he became the youngest qualifier ever for an Olympic trial in the sport.

Role model

Jordan told NBC News that he was proud to be a role model for youngsters back in his birthplace. He said, “It really is heartwarming to know that people are willing to reach out to me and share some of their stories, as well as some of the similarities we have. Because that creates a stronger bond with where I came from and makes me want to help them even more.”

Share his story

In fact, Jordan is so committed to inspiring the youth of Cambodia that he plans to launch a diving program in the country at some point. He added, “Once I visited, it showed me that there are people out there looking for opportunity. I can share my story and give them that opportunity to take a chance and live a great life in the future.”

Make him proud

So how did Jordan fare at the biggest competition of his career? Well, he made the 10-meter platform diving final, where he finished a respectable ninth. And once again Jordan was quick to sing the praises of his biggest champion, telling newspaper the Los Angeles Times, “Knowing that [my father’s] there supporting me is everything that I want. Through the 15 years that I’ve been diving, I’ve just been trying to make him proud and make him happy.”

Not 100 percent

Jordan also hinted in a press release published by Swimming World magazine that he could have performed even better if had he been at full fitness. The diver said, “I was happy just to make it to the final. My body wasn’t 100 percent but I was trying to just push through it and just try to stay healthy with the foods I was eating so overall, I was just really happy.”

Incredible atmosphere

Yes, you could say that Jordan quite enjoyed his first Olympics experience. He added, “It was extraordinary to be here with people that I’ve been able to dive with for many years. The atmosphere in general has been incredible... I think it’s only going to boost us knowing that if we can get past this then I think we can just get better from here.”

Scared of heights

Jordan’s success is all the more remarkable for the fact that he’s scared of heights! Luckily, the diver is somehow still able to enjoy throwing himself off a 10-meter platform. He told network NBC Asian America, “You’re technically in the air for less than two seconds, but when you’re spinning and doing your dive and you’re in the moment, it slows down and you’re able to see colors and see people – it really is an extraordinary sport.”

Childrfen's book

And it turns out that diving isn’t Jordan’s only talent. Alongside his father, the Olympian has also penned a children’s book about a brown duckling who’s adopted by a white rooster. An Orphan No More: The True Story of a Boy: Chapter One comes with a foreword from one of his mentors, the American sporting icon Louganis.

Following a dream

But it’s the relationship he has with his father Jordan will most treasure. He told the Los Angeles Times, “My dad has done so much for me. We’ve moved to tons of states, multiple houses just for me to be able to keep up with the program and stay at a high level of diving. And for him to always support me and spend the money necessary for me to keep following my dream, I’d give him anything for that.”