British teenager Gadirova caps brilliant week with European floor goldon April 25, 2021 at 2:58 pm

- Advertisement -
- Advertisement -
- Advertisement -
- Advertisement -

Teenager Jessica Gadirova caps a brilliant week at the European Gymnastics Championships with gold in the floor event.

The 16-year-old from Aylesbury had won all-around bronze and vault silver earlier in the week.

“To be on the top of the podium was just overwhelming. Today is just incredible,” she said.

There was also bronze in the vault final for Giarnni Regini-Moran – his first senior major championship medal.

Gadirova was the last gymnast to compete in the floor final and knew a score above 13.900 would be enough for gold.

But she put in a magnificent performance, scoring 13.966, as Russia’s Angelina Melinkova taking silver and bronze going to 30-year-old Italian veteran Vanessa Ferrari – whose first European medal was back in 2006, 18 months after Gadirova was born.

“Just to even get selected for the European Championships I was so happy and I was so proud to be here,” added the Briton. “Then to make the finals and win the medals, I can’t believe it.

“As this week has gone along I’ve got more and more comfortable and confident and today just feels incredible.”

British gymnast Jessica Gadirova

Regini-Moran was the first gymnast to compete in the men’s vault final and set the standard for everyone with an average of 14.583. He held on to finish third while compatriot Courtney Tulloch was fifth.

“Going first up felt like a good thing. I could just get the job done and then it’s just sitting, waiting and praying – thankfully I got the job done,” he said.

“My heart was beating, my hands were sweating, sitting and watching the scores come in, then standing on the podium with the medal round my neck, I was still in shock.

“I’ve had a tough few years so to have this senior medal feels very special and long may it continue.”

The other Briton in action on the final day, Amelie Morgan, was fourth in the beam final.

Around the BBC - SoundsAround the BBC footer - Sounds

- Advertisement -

Discover

Sponsor

Latest

Dart: Mission to smack Dimorphos asteroid set for launchon November 23, 2021 at 1:41 am

A spacecraft is set to launch on a mission to nudge an asteroid off course.After the impact, astronomers will take those measurements again. "They'll...

Why anti-abortion activists still march on Washingtonon January 20, 2023 at 1:04 am

The 1973 Roe v Wade Supreme Court decision gave rise to one of the largest anti-abortion marches in the world.The 1973 Roe v Wade...

Antibiotics for strep A in good supply, says health secretary Steve Barclayon December 7, 2022 at 11:01 am

But pharmacies say they are having to work hard to obtain stocks and some lines are unavailable.Image source, Getty ImagesThere are good supplies of...

UK economy hit as people shop less than pre-Covidon October 21, 2022 at 7:36 am

It comes as government borrowing rose in September, according to the Office for National Statistics.Image source, Getty ImagesGovernment borrowing rose in September from a...

Climate change: Environmental groups need more diversityon November 24, 2022 at 9:09 am

Activists say they are becoming concerned about the lack of representation in the UK climate industry.Activists say they are becoming concerned about the lack...