Andrea Spendolini-Sirieix: The Team GB diving star whose father is TV host Fred Sirieix
Andrea Spendolini-Sirieix is not like most 19-year-olds.
The Team GB entered their second Olympic Games after putting in a lot of effort to become some of the most promising athletes in the country - and all their hard work has definitely been worth it.
Spendolini-Sirieix and Lois Toulson won third place in the women's synchronized 10m platform diving competition, earning a bronze medal.
However, she has had to face particular obstacles to reach this point - from establishing her own reputation separate from being known as the daughter of First Dates celebrity Fred Sirieix to conquering a fear of diving and emerging as one of the most talented individuals in her country.
Here is some important information about Spendolini-Sirieix that you should be aware of.
Growing up with a strong sense of camaraderie within the household greatly influenced my path in the professional world. As a child, I had a deep connection with my relatives and learned the importance of hard work and perseverance from a young age. These values have carried through to my early days in my career, shaping the way I approach challenges and opportunities.
The talented diver hails from London and is the child of the well-known French food connoisseur, Sirieix, and Italian mother, Alex Spendolini. She had a childhood filled with adventures alongside her younger brother, Matteo.
She mentions that her mother was the one who introduced her to diving when she was little.
"I was reluctant to begin diving... my mother actually made me start diving," she chuckled in a video on Team GB's YouTube channel.
"My family is incredibly important to me because they have always made sacrifices to support my passion for sports," she explained.
It was obvious from the beginning that she had a natural ability for diving - to the point that she was discovered by talent scouts at the young age of eight.
At just 13 years old, she made a big entrance onto the global dive scene by competing in senior events. And in only two years, she achieved her first individual gold medal at the 2020 FINA Diving Grand Prix.
"I was a small and skinny child, no muscle on me, and I was jumping off 10m like the grown-ups," she shared with Team GB.
When you're the underdog, you don't have any pressure on you, and it can feel like you have a special ability.
My first Olympics was tough, especially because I had to overcome my fear of diving.
When she competed in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics for the first time, some things had shifted for the 16-year-old Spendolini-Sirieix.
She was larger and more powerful, but she was struggling with what she eventually recognized as the "twisties" - a mental barrier that causes athletes to feel disoriented while mid-air.
Olympic champion Simone Biles has brought attention to the mental health struggles that affected her performance at the Tokyo Olympics.
It's connected to stress - something Spendolini-Sirieix was feeling a lot of back then.
"I was facing challenges in every aspect of my life: at school and in my training, in trying to find satisfaction in all the things I was passionate about," she shared with Olympics.com in November 2022.
"I was unable to dive, unable to throw myself into it. I couldn't accomplish anything, whether simple or difficult."
Afterwards, she entered her initial Olympics with the weight of "letting everyone down" on her shoulders, aware that she wasn't performing at her peak.
Surprisingly, she was able to advance through the rounds and make it to the final in the women's 10m platform event, ultimately coming in seventh place. This was the highest individual result achieved by a British female diver in Tokyo.
However, her challenges with mental health continued, to the point where she almost quit diving completely just a few months later.
"When you are feeling stressed about things that are out of your control, it can impact your performance in diving. If you are not mentally focused on that 10m platform, the consequences can be quite serious," she explained to World Aquatics.
She encountered a mental barrier when it came to diving and described it as a source of fear.
"I was thinking about giving up, so I needed to confide in someone that I was not doing well," she said.
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Achieving success in health and career
Following a difficult start to 2022, Spendolini-Sirieix started opening up to her loved ones and mentor.
The diver shared with Olympics.com that they once preferred to handle everything on their own and didn't want to rely on others for help. However, they realized that people are willing to offer support and assistance for a reason, and you need to reach out to them in order to receive that help.
She explains that it was the act of talking and sharing thoughts with others that helped her to recover mentally and physically.
The year turned out to be a major success for her, as she achieved double European gold, two Commonwealth titles, and a bronze medal at the World Championships.
One year later, she surpassed that achievement by earning a silver medal at the 2023 World Championships.
She has won a total of 24 senior national and international medals and feels optimistic about competing in Paris.
"I aspire to win a medal at the Olympic Games, and Paris holds a special place in my heart as it is located in France," she shared with Olympics.com.
I have relatives, I am part French and I believe this tournament will feel like playing at home. At the moment, I am focused on taking things one day at a time.
However, the adolescent delves deeply into things, even beyond the water.
"Winning trophies doesn't define success for me," she said in an interview with PA news agency.
"I aim to approach my destination with unwavering focus and determination, feeling truly joyful throughout the journey. Upon my return, I strive to feel a sense of accomplishment and fulfillment, knowing that I gave it my all."
A contest doesn't determine my identity, but I am eager to create lasting experiences. Medals hold no value without the memories that accompany them.
I was just known as Fred Sirieix's daughter
The young woman had mentioned that it was challenging for her to be recognized mainly as Fred Sirieix's daughter leading up to the 2020 Olympics.
She said to Olmpics.com in 2022 that her name wasn't mentioned in the newspaper.
I was just known as Fred Sirieix's daughter, which was difficult because I was excelling in diving, but my own identity wasn't being recognized.
"Recently, the newspapers began mentioning my name more often, gradually increasing in frequency."
"I'm so happy to be acknowledged and recognized for my diving skills. I am Andrea, and while my dad is great at his job, it feels good to be known for my own accomplishments and establish my own identity."
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The two have a close bond, with Sirieix frequently expressing his admiration for his daughter on social platforms.
He was spotted shedding tears on the sidelines as his daughter claimed a gold medal in her individual event at the 2022 Commonwealth Games.
His daughter expresses that they both feel a sense of pride in each other's accomplishments.
Fred Sirieix is feeling apprehensive about discussing his daughter's diving career.
The TV host will be providing commentary on the summer games on TV, but he has decided not to commentate when his daughter is diving.
"I will be by the pool, observing Andrea, taking a break from work. I prefer not to discuss my daughter's diving. It's a topic that hits too close to home," he shared with Radio Times.
I will be talking and sharing my thoughts after the event is over. I really want to savor the moment. No matter what happens, I know there will be tears.
If anyone should be recognized with an award, it's her younger sibling. He was taken to the pool unwillingly, but still sat in the bleachers to watch his iPad or interact with unfamiliar children.
"He is the true hero of the tale, but parents shouldn't be praised for doing what is expected of them. This is just the basic job of being a parent - taking care of your children and providing them with as many opportunities as possible."
He mentioned that he will be backing Team GB because his daughter is connected to them and he has had the chance to meet several of the British athletes.
"I'm also happy to return to my homeland and introduce France to the British," he mentioned.
When is Spendolini-Sirieix going to participate in the competition?
Following their successful bronze medal win in the synchronized 10m platform diving event, she will now focus on competing in the individual 10m platform diving event on August 5th.
