Tokyo 2020 Olympic artistic gymnastics team bronze medallists – and twin sisters – Jessica and Jennifer Gadirova were sidelined in 2023 as the duo dealt with major injuries.
Jessica Gadirova, the 2022 World floor exercise champion, tore her ACL at the World Championships in Antwerp, Beligum, while an ankle injury resulted in a surgery for Jennifer Gadirova.
As both forge on with their respective recoveries, Jessica Gadirova says their focus is long-term.
“We aren’t looking at this Olympics, we’re looking at more Olympics ahead. We’re still young, we’ll recover,” she said, according to SunSports. “We have supported each other massively through the highs and the lows, especially as we’re at a low point at the moment.”
Her sister Jennifer said: “I’m slowly building back. But I haven’t officially signed off yet,” before later adding: “Yes, we’d love to go to the Olympics. We’ve already done one Olympics before so deep down, we don’t feel like we’re 100% missing out.”
The sisters missed the recent British championships and while neither has fully ruled out Paris 2024, the final designated selection event listed in the British Gymnastics Olympic procedures are the 2024 European Championships in Rimini, Italy, 2-5 May.
The full squad is expected to be decided in late May and early June.
Born on 3 October 2004, the Gadirovas will be just 23 when the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games roll around and, this tough period has motivated them to press on.
“It’s just a little bump in the road. It’s difficult but it also gives us the fire in our bellies,” Jessica Gadirova said, while sister Jennifer added, “We’re already Olympians. We’re already Olympic bronze medallists. That’s a great achievement already. Missing this one, yes it’s really gutting, but we’re still young and have a bright future ahead of us.”