Team GB gold medal winner Lola Anderson choked up while recalling the tear-jerking diary entry her late father returned to her, outlining a dream to claim Olympic glory one day.
Anderson formed a key component of the women’s quadruple sculls crew that rowed to Paris glory as the Netherlands were beaten into silver by just 0.15 seconds.
At London 2012, a teenage Anderson had been inspired by Helen Glover and Heather Stanning’s rowing triumph in the women’s pairs and scribbled a short entry in her diary.
It read: ‘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.’
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Anderson, 26, would later throw the note in the bin, only for dad Don to return the diary entry to her seven years later, two months before his death from cancer.
‘I threw that away because I didn’t believe,’ said Anderson, choking back the tears after winning Olympic gold with teammates Georgina Brayshaw. Lauren Henry and Hannah Scott.
‘I mean I was 13 at the time, so why would you believe that?
‘My dad saw it before I did. He saw the potential I had, but my potential wouldn’t have been unlocked without the girls that crossed the line with me today.
‘I’m grateful for everyone who has got me here and I would be very proud if he was here.’
Anderson says the diary entry is the most valuable thing in her life, although she accepts an Olympic gold medal now rivals it.
‘I always get a bit nervous taking it anywhere with me,” she said. “What happens if a suitcase gets lost, or something like that?
‘It’s a piece of paper but it’s the most valuable thing I have, maybe joint with this now. It’s safe in a tin with all my dad’s old medals.’
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