Team USA diver who was adopted from a Cambodian orphanage at 18 months old credits his Olympic success to his dad - who as a gay man wasn't legally ALLOWED to adopt a child in his home state of Florida

• e-mail

When US Olympic Diving Team member Jordan Windle competes in the men's 10-metre platform diving competition this weekend, he'll be doing it for his dad.

At 18 months old years old, Jordan was sick, malnourished, and fighting for his life in a Cambodian orphanage — until his father, Jerry Windle, flew halfway around the world to adopt him as a single parent.

Now 22, Jordan has reached the pinnacle of his sport and is readying to compete on the world stage on Friday, but he told the Today show he'll really only be thinking of one person watching at home 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.'

Ready for gold! US Olympic Diving Team member Jordan Windle competes in the men's 10-metre platform diving competition this weekend

Amazing! He is the first diver of Cambodian descent to compete in the Olympics

Biggest fan: Jordan said he is diving for his dad: 'I'm hopefully going to make him proud'

If the naysayers and homophobes had their way, Jordan never would have got to this point.

Two decades ago, Jerry was single and dreaming of fatherhood, but says society pushed back at him becoming a dad. 

'There was such homophobia and bigotry around the concept of a gay person being a parent,' he told Today. 'Even folks who loved me said, you can’t be a dad if you’re going to be gay.'

At the time, Jerry lived in Florida, which in 1977 had become the first state to forbid adoption by gay men and lesbians.

A Nixon-appointed federal judge upheld the ban in 2001, though it was eventually overturned in 2014.

But there was a loophole: While homosexual couples were banned from adopting, Jerry could apply as a single parent.

Forever family: Jerry Windle adopted Jordan from a Cambodian orphanage at 18 months old

A long way: Jordan was sick and malnourished when Jerry took him home

Single dad: At the time, Jerry lived in Florida, which in 1977 had become the first state to forbid adoption by gay men and lesbians

Love: Jerry read a story about a man who adopted a child from Cambodia. When Jerry realized there was no mention of a mother involved, he called the same adoption service

One day, he read a story in a magazine about a man who adopted a child from Cambodia. When Jerry realized there was no mention of a mother involved, he called the same adoption service and asked if he could adopt as a single dad. They said yes.

So Jerry flew to a Cambodian orphanage, where he met Jordan for the first time.

The little boy was malnourished and fighting infection, and Jerry knew that this was his child.

'He was two years old but he was 16 pounds. I didn’t know if he would live or die,' Jerry said. '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.'

Jordan faced some challenges in the US, both as a transracial adoptee and as the son of a gay dad. He told NBC News he was bullied as a child. 

But his father was also his biggest supporter.

'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,' Jerry said

'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,' Jordan said

Love at first dive! Jordan was just seven and enrolled in an aquatics summer camp in South Florida

Incredible! He excelled quickly, winning his first junior national championship two years later and becoming the youngest person to ever qualify for the Olympic diving trials at age 12

'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,' Jordan said. 'I have him to thank for everything, all my accomplishments.'

Those accomplishments are many, and started when Jordan was just seven and enrolled in an aquatics summer camp in South Florida. 

That's where he met Tim O’Brien, the son of US Olympic and Paralympic Hall of Fame diving coach Ron O’Brien, who'd coached four-time Olympic gold medalist Greg Louganis.

Tim said he saw something in Jordan, and that the little boy even reminded him of Louganis — which was all the motivation Jordan needed to take up the sport. 

He excelled quickly, winning his first junior national championship two years later and becoming the youngest person to ever qualify for the Olympic diving trials at age 12.

At 16, he got to return to Cambodia, where Jerry recalled a special moment that marked his arrival.

Jordan went on to attend the University of Texas, where he was the 2019 NCAA Champion in the men's platform event and 2021 NCAA Champion in the men's 1 meter event

Pride: Jordan says he feels like he is representing both the US and Cambodia in the Game

But one thing he has always counted on will be missing when he dives this weekend: His dad, cheering him on from the stands

Already, Jordan was a 'kind of a national hero' in the country, and they were met by a crowd of media at the airport. Jerry assumed Angelina Jolie — who adopted her eldest son Maddox from Cambodia — must have just arrived as well, and was surprised to realize the crowd was for his son.

Jordan went on to attend the University of Texas, where he was the 2019 NCAA Champion in the men's platform event and 2021 NCAA Champion in the men's 1 meter event.

He also set an NCAA record of 579.60 points in the men’s ten-meter platform at the Big 12 Swimming and Diving Championship, according to Texas Monthly.

And now his is in Tokyo, where he is the first diver of Cambodian descent to compete in the Olympics.

Jordan says he feels like he is representing both the US and Cambodia in the Games.

'I can usually hear (my dad) out of everyone in the audience, which is awesome. Not having him at the Olympics will be different,' Jordan said

Rooting for him! Jerry, meanwhile, says that his son knows he is with him, even if he can't be there physically

So pumped! Jordan is pictured showing off an Olympic ring at the Olympic Village

But one thing he has always counted on will be missing when he dives this weekend: His dad, cheering him on from the stands.

'I can usually hear (my dad) out of everyone in the audience, which is awesome. Not having him at the Olympics will be different,' Jordan said. 'I'm hopefully going to make him proud.' 

Jerry, meanwhile, says that his son knows he is with him, even if he can't be there physically.

Though he's disappointed not to be there as well, he plans to have a big watch party at home with California. 

'I want him to enjoy this experience as best he can ... That's what I've always wanted for him,' he said.