Andrea Spendolini-Sirieix, daughter of First Dates star Fred, reaches 10m platform final at Olympics

First Dates star Fred Sirieix’s daughter, Andrea, has reached the Women’s 10m Platform diving final alongside her team-mate Lois Toulson.

The maître d’ and TV star’s daughter, who is aged just 16, is Team GB’s youngest diver and competing in her first Olympics at the Tokyo Aquatics Centre. 

Andrea and her partner finished inside the top 10 in the semi-final to progress to Thursday’s final, which got underway at 7am – with Spendolini-Sirieix finishing eighth and Toulson ninth earlier. Her famous father took to Twitter to wish her luck and share a slew of articles. 

The previous day, Andrea impressed in the preliminaries – showcasing her pike dive as she kept her knees straight and body bent at the waist during the competition – finishing in 10th place overall out of 30 competitors.

She has progressed to the next round alongside fellow Brit diver Lois Toulson, 21, who finished in seventh place. Andrea scored highly with her forward 3½ somersaults scoring 58.50, improving her score to 68.80 with her 3½ somersaults in tuck position.  

She scored 62.40 for her armstand back double somersault with a 1½ twist, wrapping up with a score of 59.20 for her final dive.    

Her proud father Fred, 49, took to Instagram to share some snaps of Andrea diving with a sweet message the day before her opening round. Fred is unable to attend the games and is still in London, as spectators are not allowed in the stadiums due to the pandemi

Go for it: Fred Sirieix’s daughter Andrea took to the world stage to compete in the Women’s 10m Platform diving preliminaries at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics on Wednesday – sailing through to Thursday’s semi-final 

Proud dad: The First Dates star’s daughter, who is aged just 16, is Team GB’s youngest diver and competing in her first Olympics at the Tokyo Aquatics Centre (above with her father)

Epic: She showed off her incredible moves while launching into the water 

Success story: Andrea showcased her pike dive as she kept her knees straight and body bent at the waist during the challenging competition

Following her early morning appearance, Fred delighted in his daughter’s entry into the semi-final and penned: ‘And onto the final! Fisted hand #tokyo2020 #olympics #diving #platform #10m #teamgb #goAndrea’, on Twitter 

He wrote: ‘You are living your dream mon  We are all with you Enjoy x #olympics #tokyo2020 #diving #platform #10m #goAndrea.’  

Fred has been his daughter’s biggest supporter and took to Instagram last month with a sweet message for her.

‘Good luck mon [duck emoji] we are all so proud of you. Have fun x’ gushed the First Dates maître d’, alongside snaps of Andrea at the Games. #olympics #tokyo2020 #diving #platform #10m #teamGB #goAndrea’ Fred added as he cheered on his sports star teenager. 

Into position: Divers have two seconds to complete their routine before hitting the water at 35mph

She’s off! Her expert moves were watched by both sporting and First Dates fans

Living her dream: Andrea scored highly with her forward 3½ somersaults scoring 58.50, improving her score to 68.80 with her 3½ somersaults in tuck position

Fred supportively wished his daughter luck ahead of her competition in the Women’s 10m platform in Tokyo. 

Sharing a snap of Andrea at the Olympic pool, the teenager looked unfazed by the momentous occasion as she beamed in her Games blue swimsuit. 

Andrea presented with the Young Sports Personality of the Year award on Blue Peter last December. 

And Tokyo will mark one of the first times that Fred will be unable to watch his daughter compete as spectators are not allowed in the stadiums due to the pandemic.   

Proud dad: Fred took to Instagram on Wednesday to support his daughter’s efforts 

So proud: Fred also took to Instagram to share some snaps of Andrea diving with a sweet message the day before her opening round

 

Sport star: ‘Good luck mon [duck emoji] we are all so proud of you ❤️ Have fun x,’ gushed the First Dates maître d’  last month alongside snaps of Andrea at the Games the year before

The TV personality told iNews: ‘This year is the first year I can’t travel and I have to say that watching her on TV during the Diving World Cup in Tokyo in May this year was the most nerve-wracking feeling I’ve ever had watching her dive.

‘Normally because you’re there you feel more a part of it, but watching on TV you feel completely powerless as a parent, it’s very hard. 

‘When you watch football or a 100 metre race, you can be detached enough to enjoy it, but watching my daughter in a competition like the Olympics will be like an outer body experience. I won’t know whether to sit down, stand up or turn around.’

Fred shares daughter Andrea and son Lucien, 10, with his ex Alessandra Spendolini, who he was with for 12 years.   

‘Nerve-wracking’:  Fred’s daughter is the youngest diver in team GB and Tokyo will be the first time Fred has been unable to watch his daughter compete due to coronavirus restrictions 

A maximum of 10,000 home spectators are allowed at events during Tokyo Olympics — but they must wear masks and cannot cheer.

Overseas fans have been banned from attending entirely. 

But there will still be a subdued atmosphere as organisers have stipulated ‘masks should be worn in venues at all times’ and ‘speaking in a loud voice or shouting will be prohibited’. 

Spectators will not have to provide proof of vaccination or a negative Covid-19 test to enter venues and there will be a lottery of existing ticket-holders to decide who attends.

Restrictions: A maximum of 10,000 home spectators are allowed at events during Tokyo Olympics — but they must wear masks and cannot cheer while overseas fans are banned

Betrothed: Fred announced his engagement to his partner, who he affectionately calls ‘Fruitcake’ in a beaming Instagram post on 17 March captioned: ‘Fruitcake said yes’