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In an exclusive interview with E! News, Team USA’s track and field star Shae Anderson explained how her dad’s health scare made her even more motivated to win big at the Olympic games.

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. 

Shae Anderson began looking forward to the Olympics in Tokyo after qualifying last month at the U.S. track and field trials, but her thoughts remained with her father in an Oregon hospital.

From a young age, American sprinter Shae Anderson dreamed of going to UCLA and competing in the Olympics, just like her father. Having recently transferred to UCLA, her dream is halfway there; but it has been quite the journey for Shae to get to where she is today.

Anderson won state titles in the 400-meter dash and the 300-meter hurdles, becoming the first athlete to double in those particular events in the 43 years girls have competed at the CIF-State Championships. Anderson twice broke the Inland record in both of those events, turning in personal best of 51.99 seconds in the 400 and 40.31 seconds in the 300 hurdles.

Anderson won California State titles in the 400 (52.91) and 300-meter hurdles (40.31). The latter was a personal best and US#3. Anderson ran a US#2 51.99 to win the 400 meters at the Mt. SAC Relays. Anderson is the final member of a California-heavy recruiting class for the Ducks

While there was an extended recruiting dance that included USC and San Diego State, with flirtations from top stars trying to draw her to team up in places like Kentucky and Georgia, it was hardly surprising when Anderson tweeted out Monday that Oregon would be her college destination.

Shae Anderson wasn’t supposed to run. Bronchitis coupled with asthma made the simple act of breathing a chore. Running made breathing significantly more difficult.

But Anderson was not about to let the inability to breath interfere with her very lofty goals for the end of her senior track season.