- Fred Sirieix will be in Paris as his daughter battles for gold in springboard diving
- Andrea Spendolini-Sirieix competes in the women’s 10m platform final
- Dad, Fred, says serving A-list celebrities is nothing compared to Olympic nerves
An inner turmoil takes over my body when I see Andrea jumping. I remember that I almost had a heart attack at the 2022 Commonwealth Games, where she won two gold medals. Fortunately, Andrea handles pressure much better than I do!
In this sport, every jump counts. Often, the last jump is the one that decides which color medal you take home. You know you have to pull it out of your hat.
They climb up to the ten-metre platform and suddenly there is a deathly silence in the crowd. You could cut the tension with a knife. Then, once you have launched yourself, the roar of the crowd is deafening.
I’m sitting in the stands watching Andrea and trying to get into her frame of mind. My heart races a couple of times and I think, “Okay, you need to relax, Fred.”
I’ve spent my career working in Michelin starred restaurants with top-notch 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) attempt to win Olympic gold in synchronised diving on Wednesday.
Andrea Sirieix is aiming for gold with Team GB in the women’s 10m synchronised platform diving on Wednesday
Andrea is among the favourites to finish on the top of the podium but she knows that every jump matters
Andrea will partner her British team colleague Lois Toulson (right) in the women’s show jumping event.
If I’m in a restaurant, I’m in control and I know what I’m doing. The same battle is being fought every day and there’s no way I can lose.
There are always risks in diving. Even the best have days when they miss a dive. Andrea has reached a level where those days are incredibly rare, so I don’t feel scared when she dives.
It was a different story when Team GB invited me to come and try it out for myself for a week. I was absolutely petrified.
Andrea looked at me and said, “Dad, you just need to relax because I can see your heart beating in your chest.” My heart was beating so hard she could see it from the pool!
Jumping off the top is the true meaning of commitment. You are standing on the board up there and you have to jump off. If you commit in the wrong way, there is a painful ending. Believe me, I speak from personal experience.
I was completely blue and black because I was always landing the wrong way. That’s why you have to be young and fit. When you’re 52 like me, it’s not a good idea!
Andrea couldn’t have done more to be ready for this moment. She’s in the best shape of her life, but she’ll face some very tough competition in the 10m synchronised platform alongside her partner, Lois Toulson, today/tomorrow.
Andrea could not have done anything more to be prepared for this moment, said Father Fred.
Fred has been enjoying the atmosphere inside the Team GB camp at the Paris Olympics.
For Andrea, winning an Olympic medal in France, my home country, would be a dream come true.
Gold is the goal, but life won’t revolve around whether or not she wins the Olympics. It’s incredible to even have been selected to represent Team GB at a second Games. I’m an emotional man, she’s my daughter and so there are bound to be tears no matter what the final result is.
The important thing is that Andrea has fun and enjoys it. She does her best and can be proud of herself. If the best jumper of the day beats her, c’est la vie.
Fred Sirieix spoke to Henry Clark. Fred is part of the BBC’s Olympic coverage.