Fred Sirieix 'So Proud' Of Daughter Representing Team GB At Olympics

Fred Sirieix has said he is 'so proud' of his daughter who is representing Team GB at the Olympics in Tokyo.

Andrea Spendolini-Sirieix is the youngest member of the diving team, aged just 16, and her dad took to Twitter to show his support.

The First Dates maître d' will be watching her compete in the 10m platform event from home in London, with the pandemic preventing him from travelling out to the Games.

The 49-year-old told i: "We've been everywhere from Singapore to Canada to Turkey.

"This year is the first year I can't travel and I have to say that watching her on TV during the Diving World Cup in Tokyo in May this year was the most nerve-wracking feeling I've ever had watching her dive.

"Normally because you're there you feel more a part of it, but watching on TV you feel completely powerless as a parent, it's very hard.

"When you watch football or a 100-metre race, you can be detached enough to enjoy it, but watching my daughter in a competition like the Olympics will be like an out-of-body experience.

"I won't know whether to sit down, stand up or turn around."

PA

Andrea is one of two children - alongside her younger brother Lucien - brought into the world by Fred and his ex-partner. She was named BBC Young Sports Personality of the Year in 2020.

Fred 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."

On Instagram, Andrea said she 'can't believe' that her dream is coming true - and it seems her dad is equally amazed.

He said: "The one thing I told her was, 'I'm not going to tell you to do your best because I know you will, I just want you to enjoy yourself.'

"But I know it's very hard because it's such a high pressured environment, two billion people watching around the world, on a massive global stage.

"I'm just so over the moon for her; the youngest diver in Team GB, can you believe it?"

Topics: UK News, olympics, Celebrity

Jake Massey

Jake Massey is a journalist at LADbible. He graduated from Newcastle University, where he learnt a bit about media and a lot about living without heating. After spending a few years in Australia and New Zealand, Jake secured a role at an obscure radio station in Norwich, inadvertently becoming a real-life Alan Partridge in the process. From there, Jake became a reporter at the Eastern Daily Press. Jake enjoys playing football, listening to music and writing about himself in the third person.

@jakesmassey