Team USA track and field Olympic competitor Shae Anderson has dreamed of winning an Olympic medal ever since she was a child inspired by her father, Mark Anderson, the two-time all-American decathlete. Now, she's more than determined to win at the Tokyo Olympics to make her dad proud, especially after he was hospitalized for a perforated colon and missed most of his daughter's training.
The Andersons found out that Shae was qualified for Team USA around the same time Mark showed symptoms of his illness. Shae recalled seeing her father in pain at the hotel during her Olympic tryouts in Oregon, and the family was later informed that he would need surgery for his condition.
In her younger years as a school athlete, Shae always had her father to train with her. However, this time, she didn't have her personal coach to help her prepare for the Tokyo Olympics.
"It's been kind of hard because I have the stress of knowing that my dad is not feeling good," the 22-year-old athlete said, adding that they had planned on Mark to fly to Tokyo with his daughter as her coach. However, because of his health and the cost of his surgery and therapy, Shae will have to go on her own.
She said she realized how much she needed to be with her father now more than ever, but her father, whose own Olympic dream never materialized, encouraged her to grab this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity despite the COVID-19 situation.
Hardest Choice to Make
During the tryouts, Shae could not visit her father since the hospital had COVID restrictions. After learning she made it to Team USA, Shae had to go back to California to continue her training at UCLA, her father's turf.
The young athlete said this was the hardest choice to make because her father was not yet cleared to be transported out of the hospital. The doctors also wanted Mark to stay for a few more days since he developed an infection that needed to be extensively cleaned up.
However, Shae said she decided to go back to California and train without her father as it helped keep her mind focused. It also gave the Anderson family a lot of consolation that Mark's old teammates also showed up to support Shae's Olympic bid and Mark's recovery. Shae said that she's uplifted, knowing that there are a lot of people who care about her family.
Mark and Shane's Athletic Achievements
In 1980, Mark won the NCAA championship as a decathlete for UCLA. His record remains the highest for the school. The father also coached Shae's track team when it was her turn to play at the NCAA championships, where they won third place.
Shae was the 2017 California state champion for the 300-meter and 400-meter runs, representing Norco High. While she started college in Oregon, she eventually moved back to UCLA so she could work with her father for her Olympic journey.
In June 2021, their hard work paid off when Shae qualified for the relay pool for Team USA. As a blossoming national athlete, Shae's journey has just started.
