Warning: This article contains discussion of suicide that some readers may find distressing
Andrea Spendolini-Sirieix issued an emotional statement after missing out on an individual medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics, claiming it 'doesn't change' who she is.
Team GB diver Spendolini-Sirieix, 19, was challenging for her second medal at the summer games yesterday (August 6) in the Women’s 10m Platform final at the Paris Aquatics Centre.
However, she missed out by earning 345.50 points and ultimately placing sixth.
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The Olympian—whose father is First Dates maître d’hôtel Fred Sirieix— was visibly upset coming off her dive but clarified she wasn’t ‘upset with the competition’.
Speaking to BBC Sport, the London-born sportswoman said: “Obviously it’s not the result I wanted but I’m not even upset with the competition.
“The other girls were amazing, they were better than me. It wasn’t meant to be. I’m genuinely not trying to be macho, I’m not upset with my performance.
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“Three years ago, I didn’t even want to be alive so today I’m just happy I’m alive, I’m breathing and I’ve got my family to support me.”
She went on to reveal that her ‘proud’ mother, Alessandra 'Alex' Spendolini, was in the crowd.
“At the end of the day, that’s all I can ask for,” she continued.
“I’m so happy to be here, to be at the Olympic Games. It’s been a really long year and it doesn’t take away from my accomplishments this year.”
Spendolini-Sirieix added that missing out on the medal didn’t ‘change who [she was] before claiming: “It was just God’s way of saying there is more to do and I just give God all the glory.”
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Following his daughter’s emotional sentiments, her father, 52, has praised his daughter for affording him an ‘incredible adventure’.
“My love. Thank you for this incredible adventure and the inspiration Andrea,” he wrote.
“What a beautiful moment! You and your brother are the best thing I have ever done and will ever do.
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“Thank you so much for all the kind messages. It means so much and it is so appreciated. I will pass on the love and support to Andrea. Merci encore x”.
Earlier this week the two-time Commonwealth Games champion spoke on ‘struggling’ to enjoy sport after competing at the Covid-delayed 2020 Tokyo Games.
Reflecting on her first Olympics, Spendolini-Sirieix said: “I was struggling a lot mentally. I just wasn’t doing well. Going to Tokyo, I felt very alone, very isolated and I was missing my family.
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“I had just finished my GCSEs and it was just very, very stressful. It just felt very overwhelming.”
She added that after coming seventh in her dive, she didn’t take ‘very much time off’ from training and failed to ‘rest mentally’ from the competition.
“I thought about quitting. I spoke so much about hating the sport,” the athlete admitted. “But I couldn’t get myself to actually quit. So I started to rebuild my relationship with diving.”
Regardless of her individual dive, Spendolini-Sirieix exits the Olympics triumphant after earning a bronze medal in the Women’s 10m Synchronised Dive alongside Lois Toulson, 24.
If you’ve been affected by any of these issues and want to speak to someone in confidence, please don’t suffer alone. Call Samaritans for free on their anonymous 24-hour phone line on 116 123.
Topics: Olympics, Sport, Mental Health, Health, First Dates
Ella Scott