‘I’m still crying’ – First Dates star Fred Sirieix toasts daughter Andrea after diver bursts into tears at Olympic medal in front of proud dad
Fred Sirieix was over the moon having watched his daughter becoming an Olympic medal winner.
Andrea Spendolini-Sirieix and diving partner Lois Toulson won bronze for Team GB in the women’s synchronised 10m platform behind China and North Korea respectively with an excellent display.
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Their final dive lifted them from fourth into the medal positions and they faced an anxious wait as Canada looked to better their score.
However, they were unable to do so, with Spendolini-Sirieix and Toulson on hand to take Team GB to 14 medals so far this summer.
Watching in the crowd at the Paris Olympic Aquatic Centre was Spendolini-Sirieix’s father Fred Sirieix, who stars on the hit TV show First Dates.
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“This is the most beautiful feeling,” Fred posted on social media later as he sat in the Paris sun enjoying a glass of bubbly. “I am bursting with pride, happiness and joy – it feels like I’m going to explode.
“Girls, well done and thank you very much for this amazing day. Here’s to you.”
He then followed up with: “I’m still crying. Thank you so much for all your messages. It means a lot. Sorry I can’t reply to all. Merci xxx.”
The proud dad was visibly delighted when his daughter secured the bronze medal and pumped his fists in the air in celebration.
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Andrea and Lois themselves couldn’t contain their emotions poolside as they both burst into tears when reflecting on their triumph.
Their final score was 304.38 points, with China taking gold with 359.10 and North Korea sealing the silver on 315.90.
All three medal-winning countries eventually collected their medals, with Spendolini-Sirieix and Toulson proudly holding a Union Jack flag.
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Although China have won gold in each of the three diving events so far at the Olympics, Team GB have medalled in all of them too.
Scarlett Mew Jensen and Yasmin Harper sealed their first medal on Saturday with bronze in the women’s synchronised 3m springboard.
This was followed up by silver from Tom Daley and Noah Williams in the men’s synchronised 10m platform, the former’s fifth Olympic medal.
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Spendolini-Sirieix is the daughter of Alex Spendolini, who was in a reported 12-year relationship with Fred Sirieix before they split.
The 19-year-old previously said that her Italian mother got her into diving when she was younger.
“I didn’t want to start diving, because my mum forced me to start diving,” she said on Team GB’s YouTube channel with a laugh.
Spendolini-Sirieix, a former BBC Young Sports Personality of the Year, made her Olympics debut at Tokyo 2020 aged just 16, finishing seventh on the women’s 10m platform.
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She became a two-time European champion in the 10m platform and 10m synchronised platform in 2022, as well as a two-time champion at the Commonwealth Games on the 10m platform and 10m mixed synchronised platform in the same year.
The teenager also medalled at the World Championships and is due to study Journalism at City, University of London, with professor Mel Bunce congratulating her on X after her Olympic bronze.
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Spendolini-Sirieix’s diving partner Toulson has made her third Olympics appearance this summer, with her first coming at Rio 2016.
The 24-year-old came seventh in the synchronised 10m platform with Eden Cheng in Tokyo and now has her first medal at the games.
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