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Gadirova twins leap for joy as they collect results after Olympic win

Olympic medal winning twins Jessica (left) and Jennifer Gadirova celebrate their GCSE results at Aylesbury Vale Academy in Buckinghamshire (Steve Parsons/PA)
Olympic medal winning twins Jessica (left) and Jennifer Gadirova celebrate their GCSE results at Aylesbury Vale Academy in Buckinghamshire (Steve Parsons/PA)
PA Wire

Olympic medal-winning twins Jessica and Jennifer Gadirova have celebrated another success after gaining the results they needed to take the next leap in their careers.

Both girls received passes across the board, with Jessica particularly proud to receive a BTEC level two distinction star in business, while both got a distinction star in the NCFE Health and Fitness award as well as their GCSEs.

The twins, 16, won bronze in Tokyo alongside teammates Alice Kinsella, 20, and Amelie Morgan, 18, to make history as the first to win an Olympic gymnastic team medal for Great Britain since 1928.

We are very happy and pleased - we both got the pass and are very thrilled

Jessica Gadirova

The pair said they plan to remain at Aylesbury Vale Academy where they will do the sport and management course in sixth form alongside preparing for the next Olympics and the World Championships.

Jessica, who collected her results on Thursday wearing her Team GB T-shirt and bronze medal, told the PA news agency: “We are very happy and pleased – we both got the pass and are very thrilled.

“It was very difficult, and it would not have been possible without the support from our teachers and coaches – if there were days that we had to miss school because of training, they would give us the resources and help to catch up.”

As well as continuing her studies, Jennifer hopes to compete at the European Championships as she has yet to do so, while her sister has, winning three medals in April.

The pair do everything together and detailed how important the strong bond was to their success in school and in gymnastics.

Jessica and Jennifer Gadirova celebrate (Steve Parsons/PA)

Jennifer, wearing a matching outfit and medal, said: “We did all the finals and all the competitions with each other which was such an amazing experience because not everyone has their sibling or someone that they are close to with them all the time.

“She is my best friend, we are always with each other, so it just felt so nice – sometimes it’s hard explaining the experience but when they are there with you its lovely.”

Jessica and Jennifer said they do have some competitiveness between them but do sometimes feel as if they are being compared to one another.

Jennifer said: “Sometimes it does help and sometimes it doesn’t – there is a time and a place when to compare and when not to compare us.”

Jessica added: “We always want to be better than each other but in training and in competition we like to encourage ourselves and motivate and support each other, because when you are having a down day, picking each other up just helps us shoot forwards.”

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