Fred Sirieix has praised his daughter Andrea Spendolini-Sirieix in an emotional Instagram post after she opened up about her mental health battles.
The Olympic diver, 19, won a bronze in the 10m synchronised dive last week, but finished in sixth place on Tuesday for the second Olympics in a row.
The Team GB diving star has previously disclosed how she struggled with anxiety following her Games debut in Tokyo 2021 and almost gave up the sport.
And while the diver was visibly upset by the result, her father Fred posted an emotional Instagram message praising her.
In the post he shared a video of his daughter’s dive before a picture of the two of them hugging afterwards with the pair beaming at the camera.
Fred Sirieix has praised his daughter Andrea Spendolini-Sirieix in an emotional Instagram post after she opened up about her mental health battles
The Olympic diver, 19, won a bronze in the 10m synchronised dive last week, but finished in sixth place on Tuesday for the second Olympics in a row
In the post he shared a video of his daughter’s dive before a picture of the two of them hugging afterwards alongside a heartfelt message of love and support
The First Dates host shared a behind-the-scenes snap of Andrea addressing cameras with his arm around her following her dive as well as some family pictures of him with his two children walking around Paris.
The celebrity maitre’d finished his post with a throwback snap of him with Andrea on his shoulders as a little girl clutching a handful of candyfloss.
The proud father captioned the post: ‘Thank you for this incredible adventure and the inspiration Andrea. What a beautiful moment! You and your brother are the best thing I have ever done and will ever do ❤️ #lavieestbelle’
Andrea commented underneath the heartfelt tribute to her simply with: ‘I love you’.
The Olympic diver fought back tears on Tuesday as she revealed her mental health battles in 2021 – and why she is now just grateful to be here.
‘Three years ago, I didn’t even want to be alive, so today I’m just happy that I am alive, that I’m breathing and that I’ve got my family to support me.’ said the teenage Team GB star.
‘After Tokyo, it was a really scary time for myself. That is why I treasure every morning because my eyes have woken up and I have got breath in my lungs.
‘I woke up this morning and the first thought that I had was that I am happy I woke up. That’s just how it has been for a long time.’
The First Dates host shared a behind-the-scenes snap of Andrea addressing cameras with his arm around her following her dive where he told her how proud he was
Fred also shared a family picture of him with his two children walking around Paris and enjoying the Olympic village with Andrea dressed in her Team GB kit
Following her event, Andrea was consoled by her father and her mother Alessandra in the stands.
In front of cameras, Fred comforted his daughter and told her: ‘It’s sport. Some days you win and some days you lose. And yesterday you did brilliant.’
Andrea paid tribute to her parents, and told reporters that she was glad they were poolside to support her.
She said: ‘In that time, I stuck very close to my family and that’s why it means everything for them to be here because they have seen me at my lowest and now they have seen me compete at the Olympic Games.
‘That’s all I really wanted.’
Andrea had hoped to win a second medal in her individual event, having come in as the world bronze medallist. But she never recovered after a poor second dive, with China’s Hongchan Quan retaining her title.
‘Not getting a medal today does not take away from the medal I have received and the achievements I have done the whole three years since Tokyo,’ added Andrea.
‘I feel I have grown as a human, not just as an athlete, and that is the most valuable thing diving has ever given me.’
‘You did your best Andrea,’ the father said, before pulling in his daughter for a hug
Team GB star Andrea Spendolini-Sirieix during the Women’s 10m Platform Final
First Dates star Fred told the BBC today how ‘proud’ he was of his ‘little girl’, after he and her mother Alessandra consoled her in the stands.
He said: ‘What I love about my daughter is her positivity. Today she didn’t make it to the podium, tonight (Tuesday) she is going to have a quiet night, and tomorrow (Wednesday) she is back to being happy, smiley Andrea. Just enjoying life, enjoying Paris, and enjoying the moment.
‘That is Andrea – and that is beautiful because it is about balance. It is about knowing who you are and making the most of life, and that is what she is doing. So I am very happy for her.’
