Emotional moment Fred Sirieix consoles daughter Andrea Spendolini-Sirieix after she narrowly misses out on Olympic medal

This is the sweet moment Andrea Spendolini-Sirieix was consoled by her father, First Dates host Fred Sirieix after she narrowly missed out on a medal in the 10-metre platform. 

The 19-year-old, who won a bronze in the 10m synchro last week, 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. 

Touching footage shows Andrea being comforted by her father Fred, who was working poolside for the BBC. 

Putting his arm around his daughter, Fred said: ‘It’s sport. Some days you win and some days you lose. And yesterday you did brilliant.’ 

Andrea optimistically responded: ‘It doesn’t take away from the year.’

Touching footage shows Andrea Spendolini-Sirieix being comforted by her father Fred Sirieix

‘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 

Pulling up text messages of support from friends and family on his phone, Fred said: ‘Kevin, you know, he said to me, ”Let Andrea know the whole country is proud of her. My daughter wants to try diving because of her. She’s a superhero.” Look at all the texts coming in.

‘You did your best Andrea,’ the father said, before pulling in his daughter for a hug. 

Andrea fought back tears yesterday 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.’ 

Following her event, Andrea was consoled by her father and her mother Alessandra in the stands. 

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,’ she added. ‘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. 

The father pulled out texts messages of support from friends and family to show Andrea 

Fred hugged his daughter after comforting her with messages of support 

‘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.’

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.’

He admitted Andrea and her family were ‘disappointed’, but added: ‘You know, this is sport. I said to you before the competition started that this is brutal and this is what happens – unfortunately it wasn’t her day.

‘She didn’t dive like she can do, like she did yesterday (on Tuesday). It was an off day, she was tired from yesterday. No excuses, it is just the way it is.

Andrea Spendolini Sirieix of Team Great Britain reacts after competing in the Women’s 10m Platform

Andrea Spendolini Sirieix of Great Britain competes in the Diving – Women’s 10m Platform Final

‘It is what it is. She has had a super year. She is diving well. She made a couple of errors and she got overtaken and she couldn’t claw back the deficit.

‘But I am proud of my little girl. She has come here, she has come to Paris in the Olympics and she has got a medal.’

Having already claimed the bronze in the women’s synchronised 10m platform dive earlier in the Paris Olympics, the Team GB star just fell short of winning her second medal on Tuesday.

The 19-year-old got off to a promising start after her first dive scored her a 76.80, putting her fourth in the standings early on.

However, Andrea’s next three rounds saw her slip down the rankings, seeing the teen slip out of the medal positions.

She would score 62.40, 64.50, 60.20 in rounds two through four before finishing off with a brilliant – and best dive – of 81.60, leaving her with a total score of 345.50.

Andrea captured the hearts of the nation when she claimed a brilliant bronze last week, leaving her famous father ‘bursting with pride’ in a post-event interview.