Paris 2024: Spendolini-Sirieix misses out on individual 10m platform Olympic medal

Ex-South London student Andrea Spendolini-Sirieix finished sixth in the 10m platform at Paris 2024 and missed out on creating history as the first British woman to win two Olympic diving medals.

Spendolini-Sirieix – who attended schools in Brockley and Bermondsey and also was as talent scouted by Crystal Palace Diving Club – claimed bronze alongside Lois Toulson in the synchronised event last week.

But in the individual event on Tuesday, Chinese duo Quan Hongchan and Chen Yuxi took gold and silver. 

North Korea’s Kim Mi Rae won bronze.

London-born Spendolini-Sirieix said: “It wasn’t a result that I wanted but I’m not even upset with the competition. I mean, the girls dived amazing. They dived better than me today. It’s because they work really hard, it wasn’t meant to be.

“My mum was like, ‘just keep smiling. We’re proud of you. We’re here to see you’. At the end of the day, that’s all I can ask for. I just want to go see them. 

“I’m so happy to be here, to be at the Olympic Games. It’s been a really long year. It doesn’t take away from my accomplishments this year. Just missing out on one medal doesn’t change who I am.”

“It’s the sport, it’s brutal isn’t it. But I think that’s what is amazing and so beautiful about diving is that it can go either way. 

“But I’m just so thankful for the support I’ve received and the community I’ve built around diving. I couldn’t be here without anyone else, so I’m so happy I can bring home a medal to my family because they deserve it more than I do.”

PICTURE: PA