The Gadirova twins have got used to making history at these Olympic Games and pride was the overwhelming emotion after creating one final piece in Tokyo.
The 16-year-old sisters, Jessica and Jennifer, had already helped Team GB claim a first Olympic women’s team gymnastics medal in 93 years, as they took bronze, before Jessica recorded the best-ever finish by a British gymnast in a women’s all-around final when she came tenth.
On Monday, they both competed in the floor final – the first time Team GB have had two gymnasts in a women’s apparatus final – with Jennifer being promoted to the main line-up from first reserve after Simone Biles’s withdrawal.
At the Ariake Gymnastics Centre, Jessica scored 14.000 to finish sixth, while Jennifer was awarded 13.233 points to end up seventh, in a competition won by USA’s Jade Carey (14.366).
And that meant the twins could reflect on a remarkable debut Olympics that exceeded all expectations.
“I’m just so proud – it’s not what we expected,” admitted Jennifer. “We wanted to come out here, do our best performance – the first thing, we just wanted to say we’re Olympians.
“Being here is an incredible experience – each stage, making three finals and then coming away with a bronze medal, it has just been amazing. I’m so proud of everyone, especially my sister, it’s just incredible.
“Coming away with that bronze medal, I didn’t expect it but I’m so happy and proud. We worked so hard and it’s paid off with a little medal, well a big medal! It’s so nice.
“It’s been an amazing journey, having my sister there is so amazing because she’s always been there for me. She’s my best friend, I don’t know what I would do without her.
“Her being here with me in the floor final – I love performing on the floor and it’s the one final I really wanted to make.”
"It's the Olympic Games, so many people work so hard to get here, and to be able to be here so young, it's amazing."
— Team GB (@TeamGB) August 2, 2021
Still at the beginning of their Olympic journey, what an experience it's been for the Gadirova twins. 🥲#Tokyo2020 #TeamGB pic.twitter.com/Fg4MjtPhFx
Although neither sister was able to get in contention for a medal on the floor, Jessica was still proud of the way they performed against more experienced opposition.
“I landed all my tumbles, I did all my leaps the best I could and I really enjoyed it,” she said.
“Unfortunately, I wasn’t really up there [on the leaderboard] but I did the best I could with my execution because I know my difficulty isn’t up there.
“I can’t wait to get back into the gym, work on my difficulty, get some more big skills and come back stronger.”
With the duo not even old enough to drive, they’ll still be young gymnasts by the time Paris 2024 rolls around but with three more years of senior experience under their belts.
And while that’s the long-term aim, it’s back to reality in the short term with GCSE results less than two weeks away for the Aylesbury Vale Academy pupils.
“I haven’t really thought much about it since being out here but I can’t wait to see what results we’ll get” said Jennifer. “My biggest aim is just to get that pass, so I don’t have to retake anything!
“I’m still going to be in school until I’m 18 and hopefully we’ll make it into Sixth Form at the school we’re already at because they know how hard we work and how much effort we put into gymnastics.
“Having their support and knowing how well we did would help so much. We’re not sure what we’ll study but I think we’ll do a sport and management course.
“We’re very into sport obviously and it should work well because we’re already in that rhythm of sport.”