JESSICA Gadirova inspired Great Britain to a first ever team gold at the European Artistic Gymnastics Championships in Antalya, Turkey.
The Coventry gymnast made history alongside Alice Kinsella, Georgia-Mae Fenton, Ondine Achampong and Becky Downie to become the first British women’s team to win European gold.
All five athletes rose to the occasion to perform outstanding routines with a combined score of 164.428 points enough to take gold ahead of Italy and Netherlands.
Gadirova said: “I’m so proud of this team, we put in some massive performances today and it feels so special to have won as a team.
“Personally, I’m so happy to have been able to deliver my routines for the team, it feels incredible to stand on the top of the podium with them.”
The competition began on the beam as Gadirova produced a confident and well-executed display to score 13.6 adding to Achampong’s 13.366, Fenton’s 12.333 and Kinsella’s 12.766
And Gadirova wowed the crowd with a sensational floor routine as the two-time European floor champion posted a massive 13.900 after some enormous tumbling and action-packed choreography.
Her total, alongside Kinsella’s 13.466, Achampong’s 13.166 and Fenton’s 12.9, left Britain in a strong position heading into the vault.
The British team nailed their landings on vault as Gadrivoa top scored with 14.2 with little to choose between Achampong’s 13.966, Kinsella’s 13.833 and Fenton’s 13.733.
Lastly, on the uneven bars, Gadirova completed an outstanding competition with a tidy routine to score 13.866 whilst Fenton soared between the bars in a fine 13.833 effort.
Kinsella recovered from a fall midway through her routine to score 12.466 before Downie capped off a stunning team performance with a tremendous 14.366 as she returned to major championships action in style.
Britian finished almost three points clear of silver medallists Italy (161.629) and were nearly six points ahead of bronze medallists Netherlands (158.896).
