To those outside of sport, she may have been thought of as growing up in the shadow of her charming TV personality father Fred Sirieix.
But the sensational Andrea Spendolini-Sirieix broke into tears today as she truly announced herself as a world renowned diver on the biggest stage imaginable after securing an Olympic bronze medal in the women’s synchronised swimming.
And all the while, father and Olympics presenter Fred watched on nervously before leaping into celebration at the sight of his daughter’s achievements.
The pair may have followed very different paths to success, but their unwavering dedication to their craft has seen them grow to be one of TV and sport’s most famous family duos.
Andrea Spendolini-Sirieix breaks into tears as she wins bronze in the women’s synchronised swimming alongside Lois Toulson
The 19-year-old and Toulson, 24, were in shock after securing a medal for Team GB
TV personality Fred Sirieix burst out of his seat as he celebrated his daughter’s sensational performance
And through each of their successes, the other has been there cheering on.
While Fred rose to fame from his role as the charismatic maitre d’ on Channel 4’s First Dates to a presenter of the BBC’s Olympic coverage, 19-year-old Andrea opted to make waves in the diving world from a young age.
And her victory at today’s competition is the accumulation of years of hard work that have also seen her secure world, European and Commonwealth awards of recent.
Speaking exclusively to Mail Sport last week, she said: ‘I am growing out of his shadow, which is something that’s really lovely to see.
‘Actually seeing the word “Spendolini-Sirieix” and not “Fred’s daughter” is a great achievement. It’s lovely to know that I am being appreciated for the things that I am doing and not just for being someone’s daughter.’
While diving may not have been Andrea’s first sporting love, with her younger version taking a liking to gymnastics and swimming, the world of athletics was always set to be her career path.
Aged eight, she switched to focusing on diving after Crystal Palace Diving Club paid her primary school a visit – and her parents have supported the dream every step of the way.
Proud father Fred, who has been presenting the BBC’s coverage of the Paris Olympics, alongside the Andrea and Lois
Andrea and Lois holding up the British flag as they take in their hard-earned victory
Fred and Andrea outside Team GB village in Paris
The pair were seen in tears as they held up their Olympic bronze medals
‘They did a couple of tests in jumps and flexibility,’ she recalls. ‘I passed those and they said, “Why don’t you come down and do a taster session?”.
‘I really didn’t want to go. I didn’t know what diving was. I was like, “That sounds a bit silly, why would someone create a sport like that?”.
But back all those years ago, her mother Alessandra forced her to go, and she hasn’t stopped since.
It was another couple of years before she set foot on the 10m platform – the same platform she won a world-leading title in today.
She was so scared that her first dive took her 40 minutes to complete, but as soon as she jumped, she was hooked.
Aged just 16, she was selected for the delayed Tokyo Olympics in 2021, the same summer she took her GCSEs. She finished a superb seventh in the 10m platform final.
An underwater view of Andrea and Lois competing in the women’s synchronised 10m platform diving final
Andrea during the Team GB Paris 2024 Kitting Out at NEC Arena in Birmingham on June 22
Andrea and Fred at the 26th National Television Awards at the O2, in London, in September 2021
The Olympic diver (third from left) was selected for the delayed Tokyo Olympics in 2021, the same summer she took her GCSEs
But she almost gave it all up at the end of that year, having developed, in her words, a ‘fear of diving’. She was hit with ‘mental blocks’ and was left in tears in training after not giving herself a break.
She contemplated ‘just being normal and going to school’ but quickly realised she did not want to quit, and in 2022 broke through when she won her first medal at a World Championships, claimed two gold medals and a silver at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, and then double gold again at the European Championships.
For proud father Fred – who himself has had an extraordinary career trajectory – watching his daughter take part in the Olympics gives him more stress than watching the A-listers.
Writing for MailOnline yesterday, Fred admitted: ‘An inner turmoil grips my body when I watch Andrea dive.
‘I remember almost having a heart attack at the Commonwealth Games in 2022, where she won two gold medals. Thankfully Andrea handles the pressure a lot better than I do!
‘I’m sitting in the stands watching Andrea and trying to put myself in her state of mind. My heart goes up a few beats and I just think to myself “OK, you’ve got to relax Fred”.
‘I’ve spent my career working in Michelin-starred restaurants with A-List clients and let me tell you, the stress of those nights is nothing compared to this.
‘For Andrea to win an Olympic medal in France, the country of my birth, would be the stuff of dreams.’
Fred first shot to fame when he became known as the maitre d’ on Channel 4’s First Dates
Sirieix alongside Gordon Ramsay and Gino D’Acampo for Gordon, Gino and Fred’s Great Christmas Roast
Sirieix accepting the Food award for ‘Gordon, Gino and Fred: Viva Espana!’ at The TRIC Awards 2024 at The Grosvenor House Hotel
While Fred’s career is a world apart from the sport his daughter opted for, his rise from rank to rank in the TV and food industry is also one of fascination.
For many, he is known as the charming maitre d’ on Channel 4’s First Dates, but in an unexpected development this year he joined the BBC’s line-up of presenters for the Paris Olympics in what is his biggest role yet.
While the switch from the culinary world to the sporting arena came as a surprise to some, experts say they saw it coming, owing it to his ‘rare blend of warmth and professionalism.’
But born and brought up in a close-knit family in Limoges, France, becoming a TV star is not what Sirieix always had his sights set on.
The young Frenchman did however, always have a passion for food and hospitality, and it was this drive that saw him rise through the ranks from his life in the culinary world to one in TV.
Life: Born and brought up in a close-knit family in Limoges, central France. He now lives in Peckham, London (pictured in August)
The son of healthcare workers, Sirieix has previously told of how his father, a nurse, was his role model and had inspired him to work in the service industry.
Beginning to train as a chef at a catering college in nearby Souillac, in southwest France, he worried it might ‘kill his soul’ and decided he would prefer to front-of-house roles.
Having always taken a liking to life in the UK, the young man packed his bags and set off to London in 1992 at the ripe age of 20.
He started off his career as a Chef de Rang at the three-Michelin starred restaurant La Tante Claire, which has since closed down. He then worked his magic at Le Gavroche, Sartoria and Brasserie Roux.
But it was at the Michelin-starred restaurant Galvin at Windows, on the 28th floor of the Hilton on Park Lane, where he found a home as the general manager and remained for 14 years until 2019.
His life in TV life took off by surprise, from becoming the friendly face associated with First Dates.
But outside of his life in The Botanist in Bath, where the series is now filmed, the 52-year-old won over viewer’s hearts when he paired with Gordon Ramsay and Italian chef Gino D’Acampo to star in Gordon, Gino and Fred’s Road Trip.
And last year, Sirieix found further fame on ITV’s I’m a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here when he hit out at Nigel Farage, saying the Reform leader was ‘not interested in making the world a better place’.
Fred found further fame on ITV’s I’m a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here last year
Nigel Farage and Sirieix both took part in I’m a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here
Besides his TV success, the charismatic maitre d’ has also given back to youngsters through a range of charity initiatives including a charity project called The Right Course, where offenders are put in charge of cooking and serving at jails, leading to a diploma at the end.
Leading PR guru Mr Borkowski owed Fred’s success to his ‘authenticity’ and ‘natural talent’.
‘Fred’s success boils down to a few key ingredients. Authenticity is key.
‘Fred’s ascension is a classic tale of savvy career management and natural talent.’
And Andrea’s sensational performance at the Paris Olympics today no doubt proved the ‘natural talent’ runs in the family.
