That diary page is now Anderson’s most valuable possession although she conceded it may have to share that title with her new medal. The note is now kept safe with her father’s old medals in a tin, stored in her bedroom. Now she hopes that other girls will want to follow her path.
“To be honest, I think young girls out there struggle a little bit to see themselves as strong, athletic individuals. But I think that’s changing. I think you’ve got more and more women taking part in the sport.
“There’s nothing un-feminine about getting strong, about getting athletic and about enjoying being aggressive and racy. I think young girls out there are now starting to explore the joys of sport, how freeing it is and how much confidence it can give you. And I just want all the girls out there to feel the same way that we do today.”