Long before his political career, David Anderson learned the value of teamwork, as a rower. Playing rugby first at Vic High, and then at Victoria College, he learned a lot about competition before heading to the University of British Columbia to continue his education. On arriving at UBC, he was quickly recruited to join the powerful Thunderbirds rowing team. Members of the UBC/Vancouver Rowing Club had just put on a stunning performance at the 1956 Olympics in Melbourne. In the men's fours race, they won Canada's first-ever rowing gold medal, plus a silver in the eights. David became a member of the Canadian eights crew at the 1959 Pan-American Games in Chicago, and promptly helped them bring home a silver medal. Although that medal effort alone wasn't enough to secure Anderson a seat in the scull for the 1960 Summer Olympics in Rome, he was sent along as a spare. When Canada was shut out of the medals up to the final days of competition, his friend, Lorne Loomer, was shifted to the men's pair's team. That gave Anderson position #2 in the eights boat, and from there, he helped Canada win its only medal of the Games -- a silver in a tight race with Germany. David's leadership skills prompted the UBC team to name him as their captain.