Roome Mishra
Paris 2024: Great Britain’s Spendolini-Siriex ends up disappointed: misses out on what could’ve been a historic medal in diving. Teenager Andrea Spendolini-Sirieix missed the chance to make history as the first British woman to win two Olympic diving medals. She finished sixth in the 10m platform at Paris 2024.
After winning bronze in the synchronized event with Lois Toulson, she hoped to secure another medal in the individual event. Despite a strong performance in the semi-finals, she fell short in the final and couldn’t compete with the exceptional Chinese divers Quan Hongchan and Chen Yuxi.
China’s 17 year old Quan wins gold
Seventeen-year-old Quan successfully defended her Olympic diving title, securing gold once again after her initial victory at age 14 in Tokyo. She set a high standard early in the competition with a flawless first dive, scoring a perfect 10.
Her compatriot Chen, aged 18, claimed the silver medal, mirroring their performance from the previous Olympic Games where they also finished first and second respectively. This repeat success demonstrates the continued dominance of these young divers on the international stage.
North Korea’s Kim Mi Rae rounded out the podium, taking home the bronze medal. The event showcased the exceptional talent and consistency of these young athletes in high-pressure Olympic competition.
“They dove better than me” Spendolini-Sirieix on the match
Fred Sirieix, the First Dates star, watched as his daughter, Spendolini-Sirieix, competed in the diving event. Despite her visible disappointment after her final dive, Spendolini-Sirieix showed sportsmanship in her post-competition interview.
She acknowledged that while the outcome wasn’t what she had hoped for, she respected her competitors’ performances. She praised their hard work and superior diving on the day, demonstrating grace in defeat.
“Obviously it wasn’t the result that I wanted, I’m not even upset with the competition. The girls dove amazing. They dove better than me today and it’s because they work really hard.” Spendolini-Sirieix told BBC Sport.
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