Lola Anderson

Where learnt to row

Leander Club is pleased to announce Lola Anderson MBE as its new Club Captain for 2024/5.

Inspired by the 2012 London Olympics, Lola wrote in her diary that she wanted to win an Olympic medal. Doubting herself, she ripped out the page. Her dad found it and, before sadly passing away, encouraged her to chase her dream. Lola dedicated her rowing career to him and became World Champion in the Women’s quad in 2023, securing Britain’s first gold in that event since 2010.

Lola, who won the Open Women’s Single Scull for Leander Club at Henley Royal Regatta in 2021, is honoured to have been made Captain and plans to bring the squad and club athletes closer together. 

She said: “A successful team comes down to club culture and the happiness of the team. I would like to encourage and build connections between the club athletes at Leander and the squad athletes at Caversham.”

The athletes are looking forward to starting the racing season with the World Cup in Varese, Italy, in late April and of course building towards the Olympics in Paris this summer.

Lola said: “We want to finish this year knowing we’ve had our best row and given our best performance on the day. We don’t have expectations on the results. I want to end the season with something to be proud of and the peace of mind that we have done our best.”

Education

SCHOOL: Surbiton High School

UNIVERSITY: Newcastle University

Notable performances

2023 W4x Gold World Rowing Championships, Belgrade

2022 W4x Gold European Rowing Championships, Munich

2021 Princess Royal Challenge Cup winner (elite women’s single Scull) Henley Royal Regatta

2019 BW4x Gold  U23 World Championships, USA

Winner of CH 4X HWR 2019

Silver Medal at The Junior World Championships Women’s Quad Scull 2016

Two gold medals at t=The Coupe De La Jeunesse 2015 Women’s Quad Scull

Gold at BUCS CH 8+ and 4x