2024 Olympics: Rower Lola Anderson Tearfully Shares How Late Dad Is Connected to Gold Medal Win

Sometimes dad knows best.

British rower Lola Anderson took home gold at the 2024 Paris Olympics on July 31, and her late father, Don Anderson, was a part of her journey, despite passing away five years ago.

Lola, 26, shared the touching story of how she watched the 2012 London Olympics as a teenager and felt inspired to one day join the British team. She pulled out her diary and wrote in pink highlighter, "My name is Lola Anderson and I think it would be my biggest dream in life to go to the Olympics in rowing and if possible win a gold for GB."

However, Lola told BBC’s Radio 4’s Today, she threw the note away finding it “embarrassing.”

Or so she thought. 

It turns out, her father—who was a rower himself—found the note, saved it and presented it to her seven years later in 2019 after he had been diagnosed with terminal cancer.

As Lola explained, Don gave her the note two months before he died, “as a reminder and a memento that even when you don't back yourself, your parents and loved ones always do."

The athlete kept the note with her as she traveled with her team to the Paris Olympics where they won gold in the women’s quad sculls.

“I know that he’d be so, so proud,” Lola tearfully told the BBC of her dad. “I’m thinking a lot about him right now. It’s really lovely.”

Lola and the rest of the team, which included Lauren Henry, Hannah Scott, and Georgina Brayshaw, also got some royal support from Princess Anne, who attended the games.

The sister of King Charles III posted about supporting the British teams.

“Wonderful to pop into the Olympic Village to cheer on athletes competing at the @Paris2024 Olympic Games!” Anne shared on the official Royal Family Instagram account. “As President of the British Olympic Association, The Princess Royal has been attending events at the Games this week."

Princess Anne is just one of many stars cheering on athletes at this year's Olympics. Read on for more A-listers in Paris. 

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