Adopted son wins love of new nation
A 147cm-tall pocket rocket who started life in a Filipino orphanage has become Australia’s latest Games hero, snatching a historic gymnastics gold medal.
Inspirational Christopher Remkes led a stunning medal charge in the finale at Coomera Indoor Sports Centre, grabbing gold on the vault, while teammate Alexandra Eade took gold in the women’s floor.
Remkes, who was adopted by South Australian couple Mike and Dora Remkes as a two-year-old, said his background GYMNASTICS (ARTISTIC)
was the force behind his success, in an emotional tribute to his adoptive parents.
“Without my parents I wouldn’t be here today, I would probably still be in the orphanage,” he said.
“I owe everything to my parents, they gave me so much love and support and drove me around to all the competitions.”
The Aussie team’s small star stood tall under pressure yesterday to “smash out” a winning vault of 14.766, including an opening vault of 14.866.
Mike Remkes, who was in the audience, told how his son had been dumped at a CHRISTOPHER REMKES
hospital as a two-day-old before being handed to an orphanage.
“When we got notification from the adoption agency, we saw a photo of him and we couldn’t say no,’’ he said.
“We instantly fell in love with him and we wanted a family.
“We talked to the nuns at the orphanage and they had never seen him smile or happy and as soon as we took him home to Australia and nothing but smiles and bubbly and full of life.”
Remkes kept coming back to gymnastics after starting out as a five-year-old.
“His passion is so strong and his journey is still continuing,” the beaming dad said. Remkes broke a 24-year Games vault drought for his nation, which was last won by an Australian in 1994 when Bret Hudson triumphed.
Remkes set the early benchmark and then had to wait until the final two competitors, Courtney Tulloch and Dominick Cunningham, both of England, who were the highest qualifiers.
Remkes, 21, revealed his small stature was his secret.
“My height is almost like a super power,” he said.
Earlier, Gold Coast-bred Georgia-Rose Brown won silver (13.066) behind English teenager Alice Kinsella (13.7).
I OWE EVERYTHING TO MY PARENTS, THEY GAVE ME SO MUCH LOVE AND SUPPORT AND DROVE ME AROUND TO ALL THE COMPETITIONS