
Obituary by Lars Rokitta for Christopher, Chrischi or “the giant”
Dear Chrischi, you are no longer with us, but you will be with us forever! It was September 9th, 2021, the day we found each other. The second PingPongParkinson World Championships were opened and played in Berlin. From that day on we were a doubles team. From that day on we and our families became friends. Maren and I promised each other to remain friends even after our deaths, which came too quickly.
I will remember many great sporting moments with you. Whether it was the 2021 World Championships in Berlin (quarter-finals lost against Hamid and Ilya), the 2022 World Championships in Pula (bronze medal), the 2022 German Open in Bad Homburg (bronze medal) or our last tournament together in Nordhorn (GO 2024 Nordhorn lost against Hamid and Heiko). We always agreed at the table and played our best table tennis. In Oldenburg, the two of us wanted to attack again. As we know, that won’t happen.
Unfortunately!
Barao and I want to play together for YOU and maybe we’ll get a medal. To win your MEDAL, which you would have loved to win. But the many training sessions together in Hamburg, Eystrup and everywhere else were always educational for me.
Thank you for that, Chrischi!
Aside from the table, you were always very calm, very interested and funny in your own way. A mischievous streak. You were a good friend to me, I think I was to you too. Our families remain friends. We were able to celebrate your 60th birthday with all your relatives and friends in August last year. It was such a beautiful, sunny day in the port of Hamburg. A barge took us on a trip down the Elbe for several hours. The day shouldn’t have ended, I enjoyed it so much. You have a great family and even if I repeat myself: A woman, a Maren, who is so strong! You were a great team.
Dear Chrischi, tears are running down my face, I can’t find the words.
Take care, my friend!
Yours, Lars