If she came in known as Fred’s daughter, Andrea Spendolini-Sirieix leaves having well and truly made a name for herself.
The 17-year old daughter of First Dates star Fred Sirieix won her second Commonwealth gold medal on the final morning of Birmingham 2022.
Four days after taking the women’s 10 metre platform title, she returned to the high board in the mixed synchronised event - and booked a second date with the top of the podium.
Spendolini-Sirieix marked the golden moment by bellyflopping into the Sandwell pool along with partner Noah Williams, also winning his second title.
“I told Noah if we do well we'd bellyflop,” she said. “It was a perfect way to end.
“This has definitely exceeded what I hoped. I came here with no expectations, I just wanted to have fun.”
As the two winners gleefully indulged in a spot of ‘top bombing’ an emotional Fred tweeted: “I’m crying.”
His pride was obvious given that his girl ended the Games with three medals, including silver in the 10m synchronised platform.
It capped a dominant campaign from the host nation’s divers, who topped the medal standings with six golds, four silver and five bronzes.
Team boss Mark England singled out Spendolini-Sirieix for special praise.
“This has been an absolutely exceptional Games for Team England and what's been exceptional about it, I think, is the fact that it's a very young and ambitious team.
“Take someone like Andrea, 17 year old and two golds medal. It's quite daunting for somebody of that age to have all of this noise around.
“It's been extraordinary to see how the youngsters have not just performed on the field of play but also coped with the pressure of a home Games.”
Spendolini-Sirieix epitomised the attitude of the new breed by keeping a smile on her face through a competition played out, like most other sports, in front of full houses.
“I'm learning as I'm growing as an athlete about the pressure,” she said. “I don't want to put any on myself, that's what makes you crumble.
As long as I keep the internal pressure under control and it doesn't overwhelm, that's good. I’m very excited for the next two years.”
In an all-English finale the eventual winners nailed their fifth and final dive and their score of 74.88 bumped them up to an unassailable 333.06 ahead of team mates Kyle Kothari and Lois Tolson.
The penultimate diving competition went to James Heatly and Grace Reid who brought up Scotland’s 50th medal - and 13th gold - in the synchronised 3m springboard.
“It’s insane, I’m over the moon,” said Heatly. “I’m really happy to do this with Grace and to save all of this for the last day.”
