Fred Sirieix in tears as he makes emotional statement with daughter Andrea after Olympics diving medal win
Paris Olympics 2024: Fred Sirieix and his daughter Andrea shared an emotional moment after their interview
BBC
Fred Sirieix failed to hide his emotions on Wednesday morning after watching his daughter, Andrea Spendolini-Sirieix, bag a bronze medal at this year's Olympic Games in Paris.
Alongside diving teammate Lois Toulson, Spendolini-Sirieix secured third place on the medals table in the women's synchronised 10m platform.
Only North Korea and China were able to surpass the British duo on the leaderboard, sparking emotional scenes when they discovered they'd landed in the top three.
Both divers burst into tears as they accepted their medals and when the scores were confirmed.
And minutes later when they joined the BBC's reporting team, which included proud dad Sirieix, the tears continued to flow.
Spendolini-Sirieix told BBC viewers after wiping away tears: "I don’t think there is any way to describe what we are feeling. We are so happy. We have worked so hard.
Andrea Spendolini Sirieix won bronze at this year's Olympics alongside Lois Toulson
BBC
“I am sorry we gave everyone a hard time but we always know how to close a competition.”
Toulson reflected: “There was a blip in the middle with our third dive which is usually one of our strongest. We stayed confident and calm.”
Later, as Spendolini-Sirieix was asked how she was feeling, she said: "I'm so happy. I usually have so much to say but I don't have anything to say today but having my family here, doing it alongside Lois has been a crazy two years.
"I give glory to God and I have grown so much as a person not just alongside her but as an athlete. I'm so happy.
Fred Sirieix is in Paris as part of the BBC's presenting team
BBC
"We kept on pushing, never gave up. We had two more rounds left [after a wobble in the third dive].
"We knew we could do it and if anyone could do it we knew it would be us. We knew we had to be strong, be courageous, go for it, just threw yourselves off and do the last dive.
"Every synchro competition we have done since we have started, we have got a synchro medal so of course it was possible but being here now is just surreal."
Sirieix planted a supportive hand on his daughter's back before his BBC co-star asked him to chip in after she spotted "tears in your eyes".
A tearful Sirieix said: "I mean, what a competition! It's always a rollercoaster with you girls, you really took me around the bend. But that last dive... that last dive was spectacular... it was amazing.
"I don't know what to say, I'm just in awe of what you achieved. It's an amazing journey for them, won a medal, shown their class - I'm so impressed. I'm really happy and so proud of you, so proud."
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:
What emotions! What a beautiful moment! How many tears!!!!
— Fred Sirieix (@fredsirieix1) July 31, 2024
I’m bursting with pride, joy and happiness.
Well done and congrats @andreassirieix and @LoisToulson 🥉🥉🥉@Olympics @Paris2024 @TeamGB @Aquatics_GB @adidas @BBCSport pic.twitter.com/YWOwxoFrPf
Sirieix - who'd already hit headlines this tournament for his verdict on the controversial opening ceremony - echoed his praise on X.
The First Dates star shared a video of his daughter and her teammate's final dive and wrote: "What emotions!
"What a beautiful moment! How many tears!!!! I’m bursting with pride, joy and happiness.
"Well done and congrats @andreassirieix and @LoisToulson," he signed off (sic)