Spendolini-Sirieix scoops BBC Young SPOTY crown

10 Dec 2020

Andrea Spendolini-Sirieix has been named BBC Young Sports Personality of the Year, capping a breakthrough 2020 for the teenage diver.

The 16-year-old was named on a three-person shortlist that also featured footballer Jude Bellingham and para-skier Neil Simpson earlier this week - and she was confirmed as this year's winner on CBBC's Blue Peter this evening (Thursday 10th December). 

Andrea will get to pick up the trophy live on BBC’s Sports Personality of the Year show, which will be aired on BBC One on Sunday 20th December.

Crystal Palace Diving Club athlete Spendolini-Sirieix – who is coached by Lin Chen – began the year in stunning form at the British Diving Championships in Plymouth, picking up her first ever senior national crown in winning the Women's 10m Platform event. 

A month later, she was repeating that success on the international stage, taking Women's 10m Platform gold at the FINA Grand Prix in Rostock, thanks to another composed list of dives. 

In winning the award, Andrea has followed in the footsteps of Tom Daley - a judge on this year's Young Sports Personality of the Year panel - who won it in 2007, 2009 and 2010.

Andrea Spendolini-Sirieix

"It feels amazing, I'm over the moon! I don't have any words for what it will be like to get the award at Sports Personality of the Year," she said on winning the award.

"At the British Championships, I was nervous but I wasn't scared, I was really excited. I didn't put an excessive amount of pressure on myself and I really enjoyed it. I think that's why I did so well.

"For people getting into any sport, I'd tell them to have fun, love their sport and to really enjoy what they are doing - and to have a dream.

"I'm getting so far in my sport, and I am enjoying it so much because my dream is the Olympic Games. I know I can get there if I carry on with what I'm doing."