British divers Andrea Spendolini-Sirieix and Lois Toulson spoke about how ‘bringing God into the competition takes their pressure and stress away’ after winning the bronze medal in the synchronised 10 metre platform diving at the Olympic Games this summer.
The pair, aged 19 and 24, became the first British women to win a medal in the event at the Games, their score of 304.38 proving enough to see them finish above Canada.
They were interviewed after the final and Spendolini-Sirieix told Eurosport that she ‘gives God all the glory,’ and of how reading from the Bible about being ‘strong and courageous’ the day before the final inspired her to leave everything out there.
Spendolini-Sirieix, who has French and Italian heritage, but opted to dive for Team GB, also came sixth in the 10m platform individual final. After a good start, she slipped down the table and missed out on a second medal at the Games.
In a moving interview following the individual final, she spoke about being glad to be alive, having gone through a difficult period of poor mental health after travelling to the Tokyo Olympics aged just 16. She expressed gratitude at being at the Olympics with her family, and again spoke about her faith in God.
‘I’m so happy to be here to be at the Olympic Games,’ she said. ‘It’s been a really long year and it doesn’t take away from my accomplishments. Just missing out on one medal doesn’t change who I am. It was just God’s way of saying there is more to do and I just give God all the glory.’
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