Proud performances from Spendolini-Sirieix and Toulson with 'better to come'

Andrea Spendolini-Sirieix and Lois Toulson finished seventh and ninth respectively in the Women’s 10m Platform final as both look ahead to Paris 2024.

The Team GB athletes qualified from the semi-final in eighth and ninth places, and both were able to secure a top 10 finish in a final of the highest quality.

Making her Olympic debut, 16-year-old Spendolini-Sirieix finished with a total of 305.50 as she saved the best till last.

Her highest score of 72.00 came in her fifth and final dive, the back 2 ½ somersaults, 1 ½ twists in pike.

The young Crystal Palace diver was ‘very, very proud’ of her performance and admits she has exceeded her own expectations in making it to the Olympic final.

Toulson also achieved her highest score with the same dive as her teammate in the fifth round, racking up 64.00.

But a low score of 37.80 in round two for her reverse 2 ½ somersaults in tuck saw the City of Leeds diver finish on 289.60 points.

Following their performances, Spendolini-Sirieix said: “I was speaking to my family and I just started crying. I’m very, very proud of where I’ve come.

“They said that they were very proud and that I should be proud as well, and they said that they miss me and I miss them.

“I was extremely nervous before the prelim so I thought that my nerves would get the better of me and I wouldn’t make it to the semi.

“But then after the semi and I got into the final – that was exactly what I wanted to do. That was my plan and I’m definitely exceeding my expectations.”

There’s better things to come

Looking ahead to the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, she added: “It definitely does [give me confidence] and it’s very close to my grandparents so my whole family can come.

“And hopefully Covid is gone because I want my family to come and watch, but I’m very excited.”

Toulson, who also featured at the Rio 2016 Olympics alongside Tonia Couch in the 10m synchro event, said she was ‘a little bit disappointed’ with her performance but is looking at the positives.

“It definitely wasn’t the performance I wanted to finish on,” said the 21-year-old. “But there’s definitely some good stuff to take away from it.

“I’ve been very consistent over the three competitions which is a good thing and that’s definitely something I’ve been working on. There is positives to take away but a little bit disappointed overall.

“I’ve definitely found it quite hard. Obviously not just physically but mentally as well it’s a really tough sport.

“I think some people underestimate how challenging it can be but I think, use this as experience for the future and I think there’s better things to come.

“This past, over a year now, has been quite challenging for everyone but there has been a lot of things thrown my way which I’ve come through the other side of and which I’m really proud of.

“But I’m looking forward to next season and the next three years and hopefully Paris.”

The gold medal was won by 14-year-old Quan Hongchan of China after a record-breaking performance which saw two rounds of perfect scoring.

Her teammate Chen Yuxi took silver and Australia’s Melissa Wu claimed the bronze medal.