Andrea Spendolini-Sirieix in tears after missing out on medal as British diver admits mental health battle | UK News

Andrea Spendolini-Sirieix broke down in tears in an interview after she missed out on a second Olympic medal in Paris, because the teenage British diver spoke about her struggles with psychological well being.

Spendolini-Sirieix beforehand gained bronze within the girls’s synchronised 10m platform diving with associate Lois Toulson.

Nonetheless, within the particular person girls’s 10m platform ultimate she fell in need of a medal.

However the 19-year-old left the occasion happy with her efficiency after she opened up on her struggles with psychological well being, saying “three years in the past I did not even wish to be alive”.

“Yeah, clearly it wasn’t the outcome I wished however I am not even upset with the competitors. The ladies [who won] had been superb. They did higher than me at present and it is as a result of they work actually exhausting,” Spendolini-Sirieix stated, chatting with the BBC in an emotional interview.

She added: “It wasn’t meant to be.

“I am not even, genuinely I am not even attempting to be macho, I am not upset with my performances, three years in the past I did not even wish to be alive.

“So at present, I am simply glad that I am alive, I am respiratory, I’ve bought my household to assist me.”

Spendolini-Sirieix is the daughter of First Dates host Fred Sirieix and Italian mum Alex Spendolini.

She added: “I am so glad to be right here, to be on the Olympic Video games. It has been a extremely lengthy yr and it does not take away from my accomplishments this yr and lacking out on one medal does not take away from who I’m.”

Spendolini-Sirieix certified for Tuesday’s ultimate third and a robust opening dive noticed her simply exterior the rostrum positions.

Nonetheless, a poor second spherical noticed her slip down the desk after scoring 62.40 and he or she was seventh after the fourth spherical.

She completed strongly with 81.60 on her ultimate dive, however needed to accept a sixth-placed end.

China’s Quan Hongchan completed with gold within the particular person occasion, her teammate Chen Yuxi took silver, with North Korea’s Kim Mi Rae ending with bronze.

This is not the primary time the diver has opened up about her struggles with psychological well being.

On the earlier Olympics, aged simply 16, she suffered from what was later recognized because the “twisties” – the place an athlete loses a way of the place they’re within the air.

Fearing not performing to her greatest, she was left “struggling loads in each part of life”, she advised Olympics.com.

Learn extra:
Shock as Biles misses out on second gold of the day
Belgium pulls out of relay triathlon after swimmer falls sick

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The teenager subsequently went into her first ever Olympics worrying she can be “disappointing everybody” and within the aftermath of the video games she thought of quitting, she stated.

In 2022 she started confiding in household, mates and coaches about her struggles with psychological well being.

The yr ended up changing into a breakthrough yr for her, seeing her win double European gold, two Commonwealth titles, and a bronze medal on the World Championships.

Anybody feeling emotionally distressed or suicidal can name Samaritans for assistance on 116 123 or e mail [email protected] within the UK. Within the US, name the Samaritans department in your space or 1 (800) 273-TALK.