Canadian water polo player John Anderson represented the national team for more than a decade, competing at multiple international tournaments. In 1982 Anderson was in the Canadian squad at the World Aquatics Championships before winning bronze a year later at the Pan American Games. This helped to secure a place on the Olympic team, with Anderson scoring seven goals in seven matches at the 1984 Los Angles Games. During this time he was also enrolled at the University of California, Santa Barbara, playing for the UC Santa Barbara Gauchos. In 1988 Anderson played in the qualification tournament for the Seoul Olympics; however, the Canadian team did not advance to the Games. He continued to represent the national team for a few more years, just missing out on a medal at the 1991 Pan American Games when Canada placed fourth. Anderson later worked as an environmental economist.