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Topics: Celebrity, Sport, Fred Sirieix
Jess Hardiman
Topics: Celebrity, Sport, Fred Sirieix
First Dates star Fred Sirieix was filled with joy as his daughter won a gold medal in the Commonwealth Games yesterday (Thursday 4 August), with photos showing him grinning away in the crowd.
When the 50-year-old maître d' isn’t busy match-making for the Channel 4 series, he’s also the doting dad of two from a previous relationship – one of whom is none other than professional British diver Andrea Spendolini-Sirieix, 17.
Yesterday saw the first day of the games’ diving event, with Spendolini-Sirieix coming out on top in the 10m Platform as she made her debut in the games.
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She scored 357.50 points in total, having topped the leaderboard from her second dive, which was an an inward three-and-a-half somersaults with tuck – a stunt so successful that it saw her jump seven places.
Her father could be seen beaming with pride from the sidelines, documenting the momentous occasion on his phone and sending her the odd encouraging thumbs up.
After her victory at the Sandwell Aquatic Centre, she said she felt her dad was trying to hold back the tears.
Spendolini-Sirieix said: “He gave me a thumbs up. I think he didn’t want to cry so he didn’t really say much but I think my parents were really, really happy for me.
“I had quite shaky calves for the last dive. I think that definitely helped with the push that I needed. But I’ve never had that much fun in a competition. I’ve got a hot chocolate waiting for me to celebrate.”
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Siriex has previously said he is happy his daughter – who was named BBC Young Sports Personality of the Year in 2020 – is 'living her dream'.
In a 2021 interview with the i, he said: “I am ecstatic she got selected for the Olympic squad, and I’m very, very, very proud.
“She is living her dream, it’s what she wanted to do from the moment she started diving. I can’t tell you how focused and determined she’s been, and the sacrifices she’s made. When she started diving it quickly became apparent she was good, but it’s one thing being good, and another to go all the way.”
Harrogate-born diver Jack Laugher then made it a double gold for England after winning his third Commonwealth Games 1m springboard title, with his mum Jackie also there to support her son.
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Laugher said: “She did London 2012, she did Glasgow 2014 and this one now, so she’s well experienced.
“Because she is on poolside, I’m very used to her being there and she’s always the first person I see pretty much when I’ve finished competing.
“I love having her there and it’s really, really nice that she’s there today to celebrate this performance with me. She was very excited.”
Their teammate Lois Toulson also took silver, having won a bronze medal back in 2018.