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Dying Father's Note Inspires Daughter To Win Olympic Gold

August 1, 2024

As a teenager growing up in Great Britain, Lola Anderson was inspired by the rowing events at the 2012 London Olympics.

Moved by the athletes' strength and determination, she decided to take up the sport herself.

Lola Anderson / Credit: @JohnCushing_

In her diary, she expressed her dream of winning an Olympic gold medal in rowing. Embarrassed by her bold dream, Lola tore out the diary page and discarded it.

"I threw that away because I didn't believe," Anderson recalled. "I was 14 at the time, so why would I believe? Young girls struggle to see themselves as strong, athletic individuals, but that's changing now."

Despite her initial doubts, Anderson pursued rowing with her father's support.

In 2019, as Don Anderson battled cancer, he presented Lola with a surprise. He unfurled his hand to reveal the page she had torn from her diary years earlier. Don had found it in the trash and kept it, believing she would need it one day.

Don passed away months later, but his faith in his daughter's dream remained.

His prophetic gesture came to fruition on Wednesday when Anderson competed in her first Olympic Games as part of the women's quadruple sculls rowing team. Her team clinched the gold medal by a mere 0.15 seconds.

After the race, Anderson reflected on her father's unwavering support.

"It's a piece of paper, but it's the most valuable thing I have," she said. "Maybe jointly with this medal now."

Lola Anderson's journey from a self-doubting teenager to an Olympic champion is a testament to the power of dreams and the enduring impact of a father's love.