TV star Fred Sirieix was left punching the air in celebration after watching his daughter Andrea Spendolini-Sirieix take home the bronze medal in the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Spendolini-Sirieix and Lois Toulson competed for Team GB in the women’s synchronised diving 10 metres platform event, and they were up against some fierce competition from China, North Korea, and Canada.
The British duo were left hugging and in floods of tears of joy after landing a position on the podium, taking up the third place spot behind China winning gold and North Korea second in the silver medal position.
Advert
Having been in the silver medal spot briefly, they slipped down to the bronze medal position after a disappointing third dive in the final, which saw them and Canada square off for the final podium spot.
Under immense pressure, Spendolini-Sirieix and Toulson held it together for a superb dive, while the likes of Tom Daley watched and cheered from the stands.
Spendolini-Sirieix's dad, First Dates star and maître d'hôtel Fred Sirieix, was also watching on from the broadcasting booths after doing regular updates for the BBC.
52-year-old Sirieix is also well known for also appearing alongside chefs Gordon Ramsay and Gino D'Acampo on ITV's Gordon, Gino and Fred: Road Trip.
Posting to X shortly before the final event, Sirieix wote: "30 minutes [to go]... what a moment!"
Advert
Cameras then cut to Sirieix after his daughter won bronze following Canada's last dive, which came up short for them.
He could be seen punching the air and completely overwhelmed at his daughter's accomplishment, cementing her place in the Olympic history forever.
Spendolini-Sirieix, 19, could then be seen running to embrace her coaches, with tears of joy falling down her cheeks.
Speaking to The Sun before the event, she said: "At the beginning, all I got was that I was Fred’s daughter. I wasn’t Andrea.
Advert
“Then people realised, she’s more than just someone’s daughter, she has a lot more to say.
“I feel like that has helped me come out of this shadow. I’m really proud of my dad. And he does incredible things. But I want to build my own legacy.
“Also for my children in the future. I don’t want them to just be someone’s daughter or someone’s son. I want them to be their own person.
Advert
“I’m being recognised for the achievements that I have, not just from being 50 percent of someone’s DNA.
"It’s been a progression since Tokyo. I’ve grown into the woman that I am today. "Everything has progressed and it’s so nice to have my own identity."
Topics: Olympics, Fred Sirieix, TV, Celebrity, Food And Drink, Sport, Entertainment
Tom Earnshaw