EXC: First Dates star Fred Siriex invites diver’s daughter Andrea on a trip to New York City

Fred Siriex gives his gold medal winning daughter a trip to New York as a reward for her diving success at the Commonwealth Games.

The First Dates star, 50, was in the crowd at the Sandwell Aquatics Center on Thursday watching Andrea Spendolini-Sirieix win gold in the 10m event.

He says the 17-year-old’s win was well deserved “after ten years of hard work and dedication” and they plan to celebrate together in the Big Apple after completing her two remaining diving competitions at the Birmingham Games.

Surprise! Fred Siriex gives his gold medal winning daughter a trip to New York as a reward for her diving success at the Commonwealth Games

Speaking exclusively to MailOnline, Fred said: “We will be taking her to New York in September when she turns 18. We’re going to spend a few days there like she’s never been. She’s always wanted to go.

“We’ll have fun there, she deserves it.”

Fred admitted he has hardly slept since Andrea won gold at their first Commonwealth Games, adding: “Last night I couldn’t sleep my eyes were on the ceiling.

“I was just replaying the moment in my head. Today I plan to watch it again on TV so that I can enjoy it as a fan.’

Proud: The First Dates star, 50, was in the crowd at the Sandwell Aquatics Center on Thursday watching Andrea Spendolini-Sirieix win the gold in the 10m platform dive

Beaming: He says the 17-year-old’s victory was deserved “after ten years of hard work and dedication” and they plan to celebrate together in the Big Apple after completing her two remaining diving competitions at the Birmingham Games

Andrea secured her gold medal with a stunning 357.50 points, while compatriot Lois Mae Toulson took silver with 337.30 points.

Fred was pictured celebrating wildly in the crowd, banging in the air after Andrea’s victory jump.

The TV favorite admitted he was always confident she would win but nervousness mounted as their rivals upped their level of performance in the finals.

Overjoyed: First Dates star Fred, 50, was every inch the proud dad as he jumped for joy in the stands while his 17-year-old daughter won the women’s 10m platform at the Sandwell Aquatics Center on Thursday night

He explained: “Andrea totally dominated the heats, but she started a bit slow in the final. And you get nervous because all the girls improve their game in the finals.

“But she did what champions do and on her last jump she really turned it on and made a perfectly trained jump out of nowhere. It was her best dive ever. It was up that last dive on the wire.’

He added: “I’ve followed her career since she was eight and that was the culmination of ten years of diving.

Success: Andrea immediately cheered after jumping out of the water after her final vault and seeing her results when she realized she had become the gold medalist in the women’s 10m platform

Six days a week, four to five hours a day, one Sunday off, no holidays – just drudgery and hard work. She absolutely deserves it. It was her time.”

French-born Fred, who has lived in the UK for 30 years and had Andrea and his 13-year-old son Lucien with his former partner Alex, says his daughter’s passion for diving began when she was discovered by talent scouts at her local school in the South East London was chosen when she was eight years old.

Originally a keen gymnast, she was asked to try scuba diving as her skills could be transferred to a new sport and joined Dive London which is based at the London Aquatics Center in Stratford and specializes in the 10m dive has that Fred says you have to have. nuts to do.

Amazing: In the exciting final on Thursday, Andrea competed alongside 11 other participants, after taking first place against 14 jumpers in the preliminary rounds

But the Frenchman, whose First Dates show airs Thursday nights on Channel 4, has nothing but admiration for his daughter and reveals he knows how tough her training is, having faced sessions while linked to the Team GB team had joined year.

Fred said: “Five days in a row I was covered in bruises. I landed incorrectly and landed on my butt. It’s just crazy. I was scared every time I was on this board.

He believes Andrea is mature enough to handle the pressure of fame that will only increase after her success at the Commonwealth Games.

Fred added: “She’s a very balanced girl with a good head on her shoulders. I’m not worried about it, she will be fine. Andrea is fully dedicated to her sport.”

Fame: The Frenchman, whose First Dates show airs Thursday nights on Channel 4, has nothing but admiration for his daughter

Source: | Dailymail.co.uk