British Gymnastics Championships: Jessica Gadirova back after injury
Olympian Jessica Gadirova’s excitement of returning to the game this weekend was filled with sadness as she knew her twin sister was about to begin the hard recovery she had just ended.
Jennifer will undergo surgery on Wednesday to repair an ACL injury, just days after Jessica made a comeback at the British Championship at Liverpool.
“Know she’s going through the past year and a half, and she’s paid the price and hurt my heart,” Jessica told BBC Sport.
“I feel like I compete for her, too. I’m giving her a chance to see you can come back from any hurt, no matter how long the process is.”
European all-around champion Jessica, who ACL injury in “Freak Accident” At the 2023 World Rhythmic Gymnastics Championships, she went through a “long process” over time, rebuilding her strength and fitness with “no quick fix.”
“I’m a little nervous about competition because it’s been a while since I’ve been on stage, but competition is something I love to do, so it makes me excited at the same time.
“We thought it was good to make sure it was done right. It was difficult at the moment when it became so easy to get very difficult in the past. For example, lifting my heel off the floor.
“That was a huge challenge. But as time went by, I fought for the feeling of giving up or not doing small details of healing, and it became easier.”
However, Jessica will only have a basic dismount competition on the bar and beams as she strives to return to all four devices by the end of the year.
Now, she hopes to be able to repay her sister’s support and help when she turns her role back after Jennifer’s surgery.
Jessica joked, “I think fate is like ‘no, you’re like twins anyway.”
“I feel like I’m going to be a little blind about it, and so is my team, but Jen fully knows what the journey is now and can see you can come back and get stronger.”
Jennifer said: “Not many people can say they were hurt, so it’s a unique story and we both did it.
“We both want to be in Los Angeles for the 2028 Olympics and be as healthy as possible.
“We want to play as many games as possible during this cycle to enhance our skills and get back there as twins on the big stage.”
