You loved witnessing excellence: Erika, widow of Charlie Kirk, shares one of his final photos, remembers their initial days of dating and his love for basketball

Erika Kirk, the widow of Charlie Kirk, has shared one of the last photos of him before his assassination. She posted the photograph on Instagram, recalling the initial days when she and Charlie started dating. Embracing Charlie’s “love for sports,” Erika, in the caption of the post, said, “You loved witnessing excellence. It’s why you loved sports so much. You loved watching the best of the best perform at the level of greatness God intended for them.”

Erika’s Instagram post comes a week after Charlie, a conservative activist and founder of Turning Point, was fatally shot at Utah Valley University during an event. The incident shook America and sent shockwaves across the country’s political circles.

In the post, Erika also remembered how the couple bonded over basketball when they started dating each other. “When we first started dating, we went to the basketball court to shoot around. I loved seeing you in that element because time was irrelevant. It was just us, the sound of sneakers squeaking and jump shots. We bonded over how Jordan was the GOAT and you told me about your basketball days in high school and I told you about my basketball days in college. Just two athletes escaping the demands of the world for a minute,” the caption read.


“I remember seeing on your wrist a red bracelet. You never took it off, it said “work harder, be better.” And everyday you did just that. Years later, one day after an event on campus a student asked you about your bracelet, and you gave it to them. I have no idea who that student was or where they are today, but I have no doubt they’re working harder and being better, because you set the tone,” the caption further read.

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A post shared by E. (@mrserikakirk)

Calling one of Charlie’s last photos his ““Jordan” photo,” Erika said, “This is one of the last photos taken of you before you were murdered. I look at it and can’t help but see excellence. You’re in your element. You’re in athlete mode. Training for this exact moment, mind, body, and soul. To me, this is your “Jordan” photo. Permanently etched in time, held in my heart, as I admire your greatness. Forever.”

Erika Kirk’s final goodbye to Charlie Kirk

In a video shared by Erika on her Instagram days after Charlie’s killing, she said a final goodbye to her husband. She was seen sobbing and kissing her husband’s hand and expressing her love in a quivering voice for the final time as he lay in his casket.