As a young girl, Andrea Spendolini-Sirieix once told her father, chef Fred Sirieix, that she was “half-half,” proudly stating: “I’m half-French, half-Italian, and half-British.” Team GB can rejoice that, despite the various nations she could have represented, she opted for the one where she was born.
In a thrilling conclusion to the synchronised 10-metre platform event at the Paris Olympics, Spendolini-Sirieix and her diving partner Lois Toulson secured a bronze medal, besting a disheartened Canadian duo and making history as the first British women to medal in this category.
The competition at the Aquatics Centre in Saint-Denis was intense, highlighting the sustained supremacy of Chinese divers. Quan Hongchan and Chen Yuxi, aged just 17 and 18, respectively, claimed the gold medal, while North Korea’s Kim Mi-rae and Jo Jin-mi won silver.
“I’ve completed the home game series!” an elated Spendolini-Sirieix exclaimed after receiving her medal, referencing her participation in the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham and the European aquatics championships in Rome.
Fred Sirieix, her father and maître d’ on the TV show First Dates, was visibly emotional as he watched them clinch what seemed like a last-minute victory, later expressing that he was “bursting with pride” over their accomplishment.
Spendolini-Sirieix acknowledged the immense sacrifices made by both her Italian mother, Alex Spendolini, and her French father to support her ambitions. “No words can adequately express my gratitude for everything they have done, and I hope this marks a new beginning,” she shared.
Toulson, overwhelmed with emotion as she embraced her diver boyfriend, Jack Laugher, after winning, reflected: “We’ve trained together through everything for many years, so having him there to celebrate and share that emotional moment was incredibly special.”
Making history as the first British teenager to win a medal at these Olympics, Spendolini-Sirieix remarked: “Diving is demanding—it’s both mentally challenging and exhausting. It takes a lot out of you, yet there’s a sense of return. It motivates me to pursue greater achievements and continue growing.”
The British duo started their performance strongly, securing a silver medal position after their first two dives. However, their third dive, a forward 3.5 somersault pike, faltered and dropped them into fifth place, scoring just 60.30 points—while the Chinese leaders scored 80.10. “I felt disappointment rather than worry,” Spendolini-Sirieix acknowledged. “I wasn’t concerned because I believed we could recover.”
They improved on their fourth dive, scoring 69.20 points. Entering the final dive in fourth place, they delivered an impressive back 2.5 somersault with a 1.5 twist, earning a score of 77.76 that brought their total to 304.38. Laugher, who is set to compete in the men’s synchronised 3m springboard final, celebrated enthusiastically.
Then came the anxious wait. The Canadians performed their last dive but fell short by 5.16 points from securing the bronze, sealing Great Britain’s victory. “I’ve never been more nervous waiting for a result than in that moment,” remarked Spendolini-Sirieix.
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Despite securing silver with a total of 315.90, North Korea’s Kim expressed her dissatisfaction with the performance. “We truly wanted to bring gold back for our country, but our execution didn’t meet expectations, leading to some regrets,” she stated. “Nevertheless, we feel happy and excited.”
Despite a significant winning margin of 43.2 points, Chen believed there was room for improvement among the Chinese team, despite their flawless performance that seemed to blend their movements into one as they soared through the air.
“We can still enhance our synchronisation,” she noted. After claiming gold amid a sea of Chinese flags, she relished the moment, saying, “I feel fantastic.”
Following their bronze win, Toulson expressed her gratitude to her family, stating: “I can’t wait to drape my medal around their neck and revel in this moment with them.”
Spendolini-Sirieix added, “Ultimately, having my family there and achieving this alongside Lois is incredibly special, and I look forward to celebrating this together.”
