People in tears after Olympic athlete shares heartbreaking note her dad gave her before he died
Callum Jones
Featured Image Credit: BBC
Those tuning into the 2024 Paris Olympics have been reduced to tears after an athlete shared a heartbreaking note her dad gave to her before he died. Get the tissues at the ready...
26-year-old Lola Anderson has triumphed at the Paris 2024 games for Team GB in rowing.
Usually a strong one for the Brits, Anderson helped the team clinch gold after beating the Netherlands by just 0.15 seconds in the quadruple sculls.
Sporting stars of today often have fellow icons who they inspired to be when growing up.
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Anderson looked up to the likes of Helen Glover and Heather Stanning, who became Olympic champions at their homes games of London 2012.
Many years ago, Anderson decided to scribble a note to herself in her diary at the time, penning how it was her ‘biggest dream’ to follow in their footsteps.
But in embarrassment, Anderson decided to tear it out and throw it away.
However, little did she know her dad retrieved the note from the bin and placed it in a safety deposit box.
He handed it back to her seven years later after becoming seriously ill.
The note 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."
Two months after Anderson's dad gave her the note, he sadly died of cancer.
Anderson emotionally spoke about the note after she won gold alongside her teammates Georgina Brayshaw, Lauren Henry and Hannah Scott.
The Olympian told the BBC: "I threw that away because I didn’t believe. 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.”
The BBC reporter then asked her: "How long ago did you write, on a piece of paper, you wanted this moment to come?"
Anderson emotionally replied: "13 years ago. I’d forgotten about it, obviously, but a couple of years ago my dad reminded me about it.
Months before he died of cancer, Don Anderson gave his daughter, Lola, a note.
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) July 31, 2024
It was a diary entry Lola had thrown away as a child which said her dream was to win Olympic rowing gold. Her dad had kept it.
She's got her gold medal ❤️#BBCOlympics #Olympics #Paris2024 pic.twitter.com/z0vKX2WvPH
“I know that he’d be so, so proud. I’m thinking a lot about him right now, and it’s really lovely.”
She added: "I always get a bit nervous taking it anywhere with me. 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.”