Paul Anderson

Along with skipper Robin Aisher, and fellow crewman Adrian Jardine, Paul Anderson won the bronze medal in the 5.5 metre open event at the 1968 Olympics in Acapulco Bay aboard Aisher’s boat “Yeoman XVI”. The three men were amongst the favourites to win the gold medal after finishing second in the 5.5 metre World Championships at the Bahamas the previous December, when they were the only non-US finishers amongst the top six. Shortly after the Olympics, Aisher, Jardine, and Anderson all switched to the new Soling Class, when it was announced it would replace the 5.5’s at the 1972 Summer Games.

Prior to his Olympic success, Anderson had the honour of being one of Peter Scott’s crewmen aboard the British challenger “Sovereign” in the 1964 America’s Cup at Newport, Rhode Island. “Constellation”, skippered by Eric Ridder, retained the Cup for the United States with an embarrassingly easy 4-0 series win.

Anderson was a former Harlequins rugby player, and three of his team-mates were also aboard “Sovereign” in the 1964 America’s Cup. After 35 years as an executive in the oil industry, Anderson retired in 1990 and joined Special Olympics Great Britain, eventually becoming chairman. When he retired in 2000, he was made a vice-president. Anderson received the OBE in the 2011 Queen’s Birthday Honours List for his services to Special Olympics Great Britain.