BBC Olympics outrage over Andrea Spendolini-Sirieix grilling: 'You need to back off'

After failing to bag another medal, Spendolini-Sirieix was interviewed after the event had ended and was so emotional that she was unable to speak, catching her breath with every word.

Qasa Alom began their interview: "Andrea, it wasn't meant to be in the end. You finished seventh last time, sixth this time and I can just see how emotional you were as you finished your final dive. Just tell us how you're feeling."

Unable to catch her breath, Spendolini-Sirieix emotionally explained: "Yeah, um. Obviously, it wasn't the result that I wanted but I am not even upset with the competition, I mean the girls dove amazing, they did better than me today and it is because they worked really hard.

"And yeah, as you said it wasn't meant to be and, I am not even... Genuinely, I am not trying to be macho or anything, I am not upset with my performance, three years ago I didn't even want to be alive.

An emotional interview from Andrea Spendolini-Sirieix after she finished sixth in the women's 10m platform final ❤#Olympics #Paris2024 pic.twitter.com/GzCZmcWcHq

— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) August 6, 2024

"So today I am just happy that I am alive and breathing and I have got my family to support me."

Alom praised her talent and touched on her fifth dive - which scored an impressive 82 - before asking what her mother said to her before the final results were released.

Spendolini-Sirieix explained: "My mum was like 'Just keep smiling, we're proud of you, we're here to see you' and you know, at the end of the day that is all I could ask for and yeah. I just want to go and see them."

Instead of letting the 19-year-old go to see her family, Alom told her to stay for "one moment" and continued to question her about her performance and added: "Yeah absolutely, we will let you go in a moment as well.

"Andrea, thank you so much, just wanted to say it is incredible what you have done to get here, to sixth and you leave the Olympics with a medal, it is in the Syncro, you have got the bronze medal.

"You said you wanted to complete the set, of Italy, of the UK of course and now we're in France as well, all three of your home nations and you have a medal, that is something to smile about."

Taking a breath, Spendolini-Sirieix noted: "Yeah definitely, I am so happy to be here, to be at the Olympic games, it has been a really long year and it doesn't take away from my accomplishments this year.

"And just missing out on one medal doesn't change who I am, so, yeah, I think it was just, God's way of saying we have still got a lot more to do and yeah, I just give God all the glory."

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Alom once again noted how proud everyone was of her performance before finally allowing her to go and see her family, but his lack of regard for her emotional state left viewers outraged.

Taking to their X account, one annoyed viewer said: "When an athlete has GIVEN an interview, is that upset is clearly struggling to catch a breath, and they say 'I just want to go and see my family'. The response is 'We're all very proud of you, go to your family'. Not 'In a minute'. That's just cruel."

"Should have been left alone to be with her family. The interview should have ended way sooner. We’ve got to get better at looking after people. We thought you were amazing Andrea," another slammed.

A third expressed: "If someone is this upset just after a huge disappointment like this, would it not be more tactful to wait until she has regathered her composure before interviewing her?"

"Pure, raw emotions. The interviewer should have let her go when she said she wanted to be with her family. It broke my heart when she said she didn't even want to be alive 3 years ago. Andrea Spendolini-Sirieix, the entire nation is proud of you," someone else added.

A fifth fan of Spendolini-Sirieix penned: "All sports broadcasters need to review their need to stick a microphone in front of competitors immediately after a performance. Just because you can doesn't mean you should."

Noting her distress, a sixth wrote: "Much like when Biles pointed out about giving athletes the space to process their accomplishments before interviews, they also need time when things don't go as they would've hoped. Fair play to the interviewer who had a tough gig in that moment. But this was a difficult watch." (sic)

Anyone who is in emotional distress, struggling to cope or at risk of suicide can call the Samaritans anonymously for free from a UK phone on 116 123 or go to samaritans.org.