Team GB twins battle it out for individual glory: 16-year-old gymnastic stars the Gadirova sisters face off in the women's all-round final days after securing team bronze

Britain's Gadirova twins went head-to-head this afternoon, with the 16-year-olds putting on an impressive display in the women's all-round gymnastics despite falling short in their quests for another medal. 

Despite a fall on the beam, Jessica scored 53.965 to eclipse the previous British best of 12th place by Becky Downie in Beijing in 2008. Her twin sister Jennifer finished 13th with a score of 53.533.

The twins teamed up with Alice Kinsella and Amelie Morgan to clinch an improbable team bronze medal on Tuesday, and Jessica has a further chance to shine next week having qualified for the individual floor final, with Jennifer as first reserve.

Despite a fall on the beam, Jessica scored 53.965 to eclipse the previous British best of 12th place by Becky Downie in Beijing in 2008. Her twin sister Jennifer finished 13th with a score of 53.533.

Jessica said: 'It is quite cool to be the first one to do it. I was a bit annoyed when I fell off the beam but I tried to perform the best I could'

The duo had arrived at their debut Olympics admitting they were in awe of stars like Simone Biles, but have proceeded to underscore their tremendous potential in the Japanese capital. Pictured is Jennifer 

Jessica said: 'It is quite cool to be the first one to do it. I was a bit annoyed when I fell off the beam but I tried to perform the best I could.

'This just shows me where I stand and what I need to improve. It gives me more realisation about where I belong. But I'm not focusing on medals and stuff like that. I'm focusing on my best performance and if it gives me another medal I'll be over the moon.'

The duo had arrived at their debut Olympics admitting they were in awe of stars like Simone Biles, but have proceeded to underscore their tremendous potential in the Japanese capital.

Their performances were all the more impressive for the way in which they rebounded from their minor errors, with Jessica scoring a lowly 12.033 on beam, and Jennifer also mistiming an element of her routine on the uneven bars.

Jennifer said: 'I didn't want to put any pressure on myself so I put it (my medal) to the back of my mind and just restarted and told myself it's just another competition, and nothing has happened.

'I do feel like I belong a bit more now, but I still feel a bit like, wow, I'm still competing with the best gymnasts in the world.' 

Jennifer and Jessica pose for a picture after the Women's all-round final this afternoon at Tokyo 2020 

Jennifer competes on vault during the Women's All-Around Final on day six of the Games in Japan's capital 

Jessica will be competing in the women's floor event on Monday morning, while Jennifer is first reserve

 In Biles's absence, US team-mate Sunisa Lee claimed the gold medal with Brazil's Rebeca Andrade taking silver and Angelina Melnikova of the Russian Olympic Committee in bronze.  

Jessica will be competing in the women's floor event on Monday morning, while Jennifer is first reserve. 

The twins were born in Dublin to Azerbaijani parents, and they now have both British and Irish citizenship. 

They began competing in gymnastics at the age of six, and are on the 'Wall of Fame' at the Aylesbury Gymnastics Academy in Buckinghamshire. They have just finished their GCSEs.

Earlier this year Jessica became the European champion on the floor at the 2021 championships in Basel. 

Jennifer on the uneven bars during the Artistic Gymnastics Women's All-Around Final at the Ariake Gymnastics Centre

The sisters (Jennifer is pictured) began competing in gymnastics at the age of six, and are on the 'Wall of Fame' at the Aylesbury Gymnastics Academy in Buckinghamshire

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