Anderson was born in England and his family moved to New Zealand when he was just nine. He was inspired to take up cycling by his father and coach Noel, himself a national champion. But it was when Anderson was 16 and linked with Wanganui coach Ron Cheatley that he really began to capture headlines.
As an 18-year-old at the 1986 Edinburgh Commonwealth Games, Anderson pedalled to two silver and two bronze medals. This was merely an appetiser compared to what was to follow. The following year he moved up a step by placing sixth in the individual pursuit at the world champs in Austria and at the 1988 Seoul Olympic Games he finished seventh in the same event.
Anderson was sensational at the 1990 Auckland Commonwealth Games where he won three gold medals - in the individual pursuit, 10-mile scratch race and in the team pursuit. He also added a silver in the kilometre time trial.
After the bronze medal in the 4000m individual pursuit at Barcelona Olympic Games in 1992 (and an under-rated fourth as part of the teams pursuit), the Wanganui rider turned to the road and enjoyed considerable success on the US circuit. However he was not able to translate his ability into medals on the road at the 1994 Victoria Commonwealth Games and for the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games reverted to the individual pursuit, where he finished a disappointing 13th out of a field of 18.
He looked in sharp form before the 1998 Kuala Lumpur Commonwealth Games but a serious road crash in the US put him out of cycling for many months. Instead he worked as a commentator at Kuala Lumpur.
Anderson made his Games farewell at the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games, riding the individual and teams pursuit.
He moved straight into coaching and managing and took a team to the 2001 world junior championships in Pennsylvania.
Anderson lives in Wanganui where he works as a shop assistant while training to enter the fire service. He and his wife Nicky have one boy and one girl.