LOLA ANDERSON, 1998, United Kingdom
Women's four scull world champion at the World Rowing Championships 2023
Silver medal in W4x at the II Rowing World Cup 2023, bronze medal at the Rowing World Championships 2022.
What is the main trait of your character?
I would say I am a positive person.
Has it influenced your sports career?
Keeping myself mentally upbeat has helped me enjoy my training day in and day out, as well as improving my resilience during tougher seasons and training roadblocks.
What virtue do you wish you had?
I would like to be braver outside of the boat and training.
Fun fact about you.
I have a twin brother!
Do you have a motto for life?
See life as a half-full bottle instead of a half-empty one.
Your second favorite sport.
Running. In school I loved to run cross-country.
Three athletes you admire.
It is difficult to choose just three, but Billie Jean King will always stand out for the role she has played in demonstrating female athletic talent and determination.
What is the sporting milestone you remember most?
Winning the Henley Royal regatta in the women's skiff. It was one of the first major competitions we were able to participate in after the Covid, and the atmosphere was very special.
How did you become a fan of your sport?
My dad learned to row in college, so he introduced the whole family to the sport, my older sister learned first and then my brother started learning a few years before me. They opened a rowing club my sophomore year of high school and since I knew a little about the sport from watching my brothers row and compete, I signed up!
Who helped you the most to achieve your sports dream?
I've been very lucky and have always had an incredibly supportive environment, from my family to coaches, from juniors to seniors. I would say in particular one of my first rowing coaches, Bill Lucas, was very influential in developing me as an athlete from a young age, while my father played a key role in my mindset about training and how I responded to that mentality.
Your greatest achievement?
Winning the World Championship this summer in the women's four scull.
And your worst failure?
I haven't always had perfect execution when the time comes, but I would never consider a result as a failure, mistakes are always made, and these have taught me something about how I can improve and, in the end, be faster.
What has the sport taught you for life?
Rowing has taught me the importance of teamwork. Even in the smallest boat, rowing is still a team sport. We are surrounded by support staff, friends and coaches who are continually on hand to help and dedicate themselves to each other. Working well as a team allows you to bring out the best in yourself while giving back to those around you.
How would you like fans to remember you?
I would like to be seen as someone close and friendly.
What is the biggest challenge in your sport?
Patience, training is never going to be easy and sometimes as athletes we want to push ourselves harder than is good for us.
What is the most important aspect of any training?
Patience, training with confidence in your program, as it will allow you to become more consistent as an athlete and ultimately make you better.
Do you have any rituals or hobbies before a competition?
I always listen to my music an hour or two before I get in the boat, because it helps me not to get too hung up on the nerves of the competition.
What role has your upbringing played in your sports career?
I learned to row in high school and without the coaches I met there I may not have continued on to college. Rowing at Newcastle further reinforced the sense of community and friendship that I associate with rowing and that plays a huge part in why I love the sport. Although I'm sure I would have loved rowing wherever I learned it, it was my upbringing that introduced me to it properly.
And what role has sport played in your education?
Just as school introduced me to rowing, rowing opened up many opportunities for me when it came time to look for university. I went from learning on a small part of the River Thames to exploring universities not only in the UK but in the US as well.
A tip for the younger ones.
Always keep in mind why you enjoy the sport. Having goals and dreams is not a bad thing, but putting too much pressure on yourself and your team can undermine what makes you enjoy training. If you can't enjoy the day to day it is much harder to motivate yourself and pursue your goals. Enjoying the sport for what it is and what it means to you is something that should never be lost.