Luke Van Harmelen’s love for gymnastics started at a very young age.
His parents, Grant and Jenn, first introduced him to the sport when he was around 3 years old.
“He just took to it really well,” Grant said. “He just loved it and he knew from the beginning he wanted to succeed.”
When he was younger, he wanted to do the spits. Grant said Luke would plant himself in front of the TV in sweatpants, practising the splits. “Just to make sure he got his splits looking completely flat.”
“He loved competing.”
“He was the kid who didn’t really get nervous for a competition, he got excited and he just loved to put his stuff out there and you know, and he was a fantastic competitor, a great teammate,” Grant said.
The Cloverdale teen was always supportive of his teammates and even competitors, always cheering them on and celebrating their successes.
“The whole boy’s gymnastics community is tight because once you get to a certain level, you know everybody,” Grant said.
Luke did very well at the sport, his dad said. He represented B.C. as a member of Team BC from 2014- 2020.
“When Covid-19 struck he was set to represent Team BC at his first Nationals and was the top-ranked male national open gymnast in B.C.,” according to a post on gofundme.com. He also won his level in provincials three years in a row.
“He loved it,” Grant said. “It was until a combination of things happened, including COVID and shutdowns and such, that really took the wind out of his sails.”
“Some things just kind of got the best of him and unfortunately, like a lot of younger teenage boys, kind of lost his way a bit,” Grant said.
Luke died of a fentanyl overdose on September 6, 2023, at the age of 19.
“He had some demons from his past as a child that came back,” Grant added. “He couldn’t come to grips with it and just couldn’t get ahead of it, and he tried as much as a teenager tries.”
“Luke was in the process of turning everything around,” the gofundme post says. “He was engaged in therapy, he was working, and he had many wonderful things happening in his life. He was loved, and he knew he was loved. Sadly, he had a moment where the drive to use got the better of him, and this time the drugs that he used were not safe and they took his life.”
Luke was also looking into treatment programs in the last year of his life, but Grant said these programs were not easy to get into. It was also challenging because, at the time, Luke was 18, “right at the border of youth and adult programs.”
“It was difficult to find where he was supposed to be, where he was allowed to be, and then you don’t find out until later when you start digging that you have to actually try this program before you’re allowed to try this program,” Grant said. “You actually kind of have to fail out of the first one so that you can get into the next one.”
“It’s a sad way to end because besides his past, when he was young the the incident that kind of plagued him, besides that he was it was so full of potential.”
“He certainly left his mark on this club, this sport, this community,” Grant said.
Luke’s legacy continues at Surrey Gymnastic Society, where he trained “for the most important parts of his training,” Grant said.
The 2024 Carol Lenz Memorial Invitational was dedicated to Luke. The tournament was held at Guildford Recreation Centre March 8-10.
READ MORE: 500 gymnasts at Surrey meet honouring pair who died 40 years apart
Two gymnasts were awarded the Luke Van Harmelen Sportsmanship Award.
Grant said this award means a lot to him and his family.
“It’s kind of sad and encouraging and heartwarming and it feels like support and recognition for him,” Grant said.
“It’s good because his name will stay around; he’ll be remembered and associated with the things he did best.”
This award was given to athletes who showed attributes that Luke had. “The athlete who shows consistency across all events is a teammate who cheers for others and exudes humbleness in their achievements,” reads the award.
Luke’s mom, Jenn, stated in a post on Instagram that “he loved being there with his teammates, for his gymnastics club and when he was representing Team BC, cheering and shouting and clapping each other on the back after an awesome routine.”
The award was handed out for each session to a boy or girl from the levels in that session.
The winners of 2024 Luke Van Harmelen Sportsmanship Award from the first session were Rorie from Cariboo Chilcotin Gymnastics and Sorella from TAG Gymnastics.
Jenn congratulated the winners in her post and said, “I pray and hope that you will find the same joy in gymnastics for years to come.”
In November 2023, Surrey Gym Society posted on its social media accounts that its athletes would wear Luke’s initials, LVH, on their backpacks in his memorial.
Luke’s mom, Jenn, in a post on Instagram, thanked Surrey Gym for remembering Luke in this way.
“He would feel so touched and honoured, knowing you’re doing this for him and for the influence he’s had in the gymnastics community,” Jenn said.
For drug treatment options and resources in B.C., call the Alcohol and Drug Information Referral Service at 604-660-9382 or toll-free at 1-800-663-1441.
Other resources include: Fraser Health mental health and substance use.
Some warning signs that your child might be using drugs include abrupt mood changes, anxiety, a decline in attendance or performance at school, increased borrowing of money and heightened secrecy about actions or possessions.
-With files from Tom Zillich