Newcastle University graduate wins Olympic gold medal honouring late father
Lola Anderson has wanted to win an Olympic medal since she was 13
Ella MorrisonA Newcastle University graduate has won the Olympic gold medal in rowing, following the passing of her Dad.
Lola Anderson honoured her late father after an emotional win at the Paris Olympics on 31st July.
After the London Olympics 2012, 13-year-old Lola wrote in a diary that she wanted to win an Olympic medal one day. She later felt embarrassed by the aspiration and so ripped the entry out and threw it away.
Her father, who passed away from cancer seven years later, found the piece of paper and returned it to her, encouraging her to follow her dreams.
This added a bittersweet element to the moment that Lola and her teammates Georgie Brayshaw, Hannah Scott and Lauren Henry made history by becoming the first British team to win gold in the women’s quadruple sculls.
Their win culminated in a dramatic race, with the Netherlands receiving silver after a photo finish.
This is the first time Lola, who was involved in university rowing teams during her time at Newcastle, has competed in the Olympics.
After speaking to ITV News, Lola said: “It’s sad to have lost someone, and grief is something that’s always going to be a terrible thing.”
“Instead of focussing on the sadness that you can feel it in missing them, I really wanted to celebrate how much he was still there with me in the moment by expressing all those years ago how much he believed in me and likewise my mum was still here to say that, so yesterday was a huge warm hug of family.”
Lola, who graduated with an English Literature degree in 2019, also said that she has plans to return to Newcastle this summer, her victory lap will include celebrations at Flares or Partini.
Featured image via Instagram @lolaanderson
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