FRED SIRIEIX: A-listers give me less stress than watching my daughter! But the main thing is that Andrea has fun and enjoys the occasion as she dives for Olympic
- Fred Sirieix will be watching on in Paris as his daughter strives for diving gold
- Andrea Spendolini-Sirieix is competing in the women's 10m platform final
- Dad, Fred, claims serving A-listers is nothing compared to the Olympics nerves
An inner turmoil grips my body when I watch Andrea dive. I remember almost having a heart attack at the Commonwealth Games in 2022, where she won two gold medals. Thankfully Andrea handles the pressure a lot better than I do!
In this sport, every dive matters. Often your last is the one that decides which colour medal you are going home with. You know you have got to pull it out of the bag.
They climb all the way up there to the 10-metre platform and suddenly there is pin-drop silence in the crowd. You can cut the tension with a knife. Then, once you have dived, the roar from the crowd is deafening.
I’m sitting in the stands watching Andrea and trying to put myself in her state of mind. My heart goes up a few beats and I just think to myself ‘OK, you’ve got to relax Fred’.
I’ve spent my career working in Michelin-starred restaurants with A-List clients and let me tell you, the stress of those nights is nothing compared to this.
Fred Siriex (left) will be nervously watching his daughter Andrea Spendolini-Sirieix (right) try to win gold at the Olympics in synchronised diving on Wednesday
Andrea Sirieix is aiming for gold with Team GB in the women's synchronised 10m platform dive on Wednesday
Andrea is among the favourites to finish on top of the podium but knows that every dive matters
Andrea will partner her Team GB colleague Lois Toulson (right) in the women's diving event
If I’m in a restaurant, I’m in control and know what I’m doing. You’re fighting the same battle every day and there’s no way I’m going to lose.
In diving, there’s always risk. Even the best have days where they miss a dive. Andrea has now reached a level where those days are incredibly rare, so I’m not scared when she dives.
It was a different story when Team GB invited me to come in and try it myself for a week. I was absolutely petrified.
Andrea was watching me and was saying ‘Daddy, you just need to relax because I can see your heart beating in your chest’. My heart was pounding so hard she could see it from the poolside!
Jumping from up there is the true meaning of commitment. You’re standing on the board way up there and have to throw yourself off. If you commit in the wrong way, there is a painful ending. Trust me, I speak from personal experience.
I was left completely black and blue because I kept landing the wrong way. That's why you’ve got to be young and fit. When you're 52 like me it's not a good idea!
Andrea couldn’t have done anything more to be ready for this moment. She’s in the shape of her life but will be up against very strong competition in the 10m synchronised platform today/tomorrow alongside her partner, Lois Toulson.
Andrea couldn’t have done anything more to be ready for this moment, said father Fred
Fred has been soaking up the atmosphere within Team GB's camp at the Paris Olympics
For Andrea to win an Olympic medal in France, the country of my birth, would be the stuff of dreams.
Gold is the aim, but life will not revolve around whether she wins the Olympics or not. It's amazing even to be selected to represent Team GB at a second Games. I’m an emotional guy, it’s my daughter and so there’s bound to be tears no matter the final result.
The main thing is that Andrea has fun and she enjoys it. That she does her best and can be proud of herself. If she gets beaten by the better diver on the day, c'est la vie.
Fred Sirieix was speaking to Henry Clark. Fred is part of the BBC’s coverage of the Olympic Games.
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