Being the daughter of First Dates TV star Fred Sirieix brings with it both advantages and disadvantages for young diving sensation Andrea Spendolini-Sirieix.
But the 16-year-old knows that whatever happens during her Olympic debut in Tokyo, no one will be cheering her on more than the famous Channel 4 maître d’ and matchmaker.
Spendolini-Sirieix has been selected as part of a 12-strong Team GB diving squad, headed up by soon-to-be four-time Olympian Tom Daley, to compete in the women’s 10m platform in Japan.
Her inclusion comes just months after winning the 2020 BBC Young Sports Personality of the Year, beating the likes of England footballer Jude Bellingham to the award.
And Spendolini-Sirieix says her father’s experience in the limelight during his career in television has come in handy as her media commitments have gradually increased.
“When I started doing interviews in December, I was always really nervous and after my interview I would go ‘Oh dad, how was it? Did I do good?’” she said.
“My dad is really well spoken and he’s really encouraging and so is my mum and my brother as well. My family is the best family, they do everything for me and they always have.”
Spendolini-Sirieix showed her medal potential at the European Championships last month, clinching silver in the 10m mixed synchro event alongside fellow Tokyo-bound Noah Williams.
She also won bronze in the individual event - as Sirieix Snr live tweeted along with the event.
“It was quite funny,” she said. “I don't have social media when I compete because I just want to focus on my competitions and my training, so I didn't actually see it until after my competition.
“I was like ‘Oh my gosh’, everybody knows it is at this time, this time. Yes, it's very funny. My dad and I have different fields, my dad is on TV and I jump off a diving board.
💥Exciting news 💥 Today is the official announcement of @teamgb @britishswimming @olympics #olympic #diving #goteamGB #goAndrea 🦆 pic.twitter.com/42BUzDAsSd
— Fred Sirieix (@fredsirieix1) June 2, 2021
“My dad tried it [diving], he can tell you it's not the easiest thing.”
But while Spendolini-Sirieix won’t be taking any diving tips off her old man anytime soon, she has learnt the value of hard work from him as she looks to forge her own path.
“From time to time [I watch First Dates], I think it’s quite funny. At school, they go ‘Oh my gosh’, or they send pictures like ‘Andrea, this is your dad’. And I go, ‘Yeah, it is’,” she continued.
“But when people go ‘Oh your dad is a celebrity’, I go, ‘Oh no he’s not, he’s just my dad’. It doesn't really affect my opinion of him at all. I'm so proud of what he does.
“He worked really hard to get where he is now.”
She added: “The dream for every athlete is an Olympic medal. I'm going to the Olympics with an open mind, of course, I want to medal, of course I want to do the best that I can do.
“But I want to show and I want to broadcast to everyone that I want to be the best, I can work hard to try and be the best and I'm so excited for this experience and I'm really, really happy.”
And after revealing that her dad cried when she won Young Sports Personality of the Year, she admitted he probably won’t be the only emotional one if she wins a medal this summer.
“I think that [doing well in Tokyo] would bring myself tears of joy as well,” she said. “I don't want people to cry out of sadness, so if they cry out happiness even better.”
Sportsbeat 2021.