If their eight-year-old selves could see them now, they'd be shook.
British artistic gymnasts Ruby Evans and Poppy-Grace Stickler were not only competing together at the 2023 World Gymnastics Championships, but they were doing so in a grouping that included the gymnastics GOAT, Simone Biles.
Courtesy of coming second to the US team in qualification, the Brits competed alongside their American counterparts in the final, due to two of eight qualified nations competing on each of the four apparatus.
So, the pair were literally, LITERALLY, sitting next to the gymnast who would, by competition's end, become the most successful gymnast at Worlds ever with 30 medals including 23 titles.
"It felt unreal," Evans told Olympics.com in an exclusive interview at the event in Belgium. "I used to watch her on my telly and now I'm just sat next to her and she's just so chill. She just sits there, has a little talk, and just gets on there (the competition floor) and just does it."
Sixteen-year-old Evans was making her Worlds debut, and after competing on vault and floor in Belgium to help GB to a sixth-place finish, would become the first senior Welsh woman to compete at the blue riband event for 17 years.
Stickler, 17, was at her second World Championships, but was a reserve at the 2022 edition where the team claimed second place to not only secure the best ever result for British women but also obtain a five-person quota berth for Paris 2024.
The besties are having quite the time of it.
- As National Olympic Committees have the exclusive authority for the representation of their respective countries at the Olympic Games, athletes' participation at the Paris Games depends on their NOC selecting them to represent their delegation at Paris 2024.
- Click here to see the official qualification system for each sport.
Olympic dreams
The pair have known each other since they were kids, and always shared a love of banter, says Stickler. But it's been the past two years in which they've become super close.
"I think it's just getting a bit older especially going to more competitions together," said Evans. "We just get used to being around each other and, yeah, we just get along really well and we're quite similar."
When asked in what ways are they similar they laugh and both say, "Just crazy, crazy."
They'll say things at the same time or like the same clothes – so far, so teenager – but their bond is forged in the fire of elite training and high-pressure competitions on the world stage. Competing alongside one of the special few athletes who transcend the sporting arena is not something your average teen will experience.
At the Worlds in Antwerp, Biles was competing almost 10 years to the day after she made her debut as a 16-year-old. Bursting onto the global scene, she won four medals including gold in the all-around and floor to make an immediate impact.
A decade later, and the 26-year-old was watching on as two more 16/17-year-olds entered the fray, wide-eyed and ready to make their own mark.
Fun vibes ease pressure
Dancing and singing to other competitors' floor music, cheering on their own teammates and those from other nations too, the twosome were clearly having fun in the Sportpaleis arena.
Biles and co were exuding a rather more serious vibe. The seven-time Olympic medallist was competing in her first international meet since withdrawing from some events at Tokyo 2020 to prioritise her mental health, and had the pressure borne of those who succeed beyond measure upon her.
Were Rubes and Pops aware of that dichotomy?
"Yeah, we felt the eyes definitely."
"I was quite nervous," said Stickler. "I was saying to Ruby, I was like, 'Oh my days, she's literally right next to me."
"And I accidentally sprayed her on her leg with my spray," said Evans. "And she was like, what was that? And I was like, 'Oh, it was my spray, I'm so sorry. And she was like, 'Oh, it's fine', and she just started laughing. So, yeah, it was nice to have a little conversation with her. It was just unreal though. It was insane."
Despite being sprayed by the Brits, the United States claimed their seventh consecutive women's team title, and are no doubt eyeing a return to the top of the podium at Paris 2024, after their threepeat attempt was thwarted by the ROC in Tokyo.
The Brits, meanwhile, will be hoping to again make the podium after claiming bronze in Japan, the first GB women’s Olympic team medal in 93 years.
But even getting in the team for Paris is the first tricky step.
- Jessica Gadirova admits to "tough and long journey ahead" after suffering full ACL tear at World Championships
Paris 2024 or LA 2028?
Both Evans and Stickler are eyeing a place on the British team for the Games in France but with the squad not selected until weeks before the XXXIII Olympiad begins on 26 July, each competition from now on in, in particular the European Championships taking place in Italy in May, is an important indicator of each gymnast's form.
Evans is working hard in training and eyeing her first competitions of the season but Stickler is having one of those rollercoaster dips that are part and parcel of elite sport.
Weeks after signing to the 2025 class of the Utah Gymnastics team on a full athletic scholarship, Stickler sustained hip and back injuries on bars in early January, from which she is now recovering.
"Not the most ideal way to start this year off but positive vibes from here on out. Rest and recovery starts now," she posted.
Despite the disappointment, the path plotted by the two highlighted LA 2028 as the Olympic Games to aim for, so even eyeing Paris is way ahead of schedule.
Besides, no matter what, they are with each other every step of the way.
When asked what her best moment of the World Championships in Antwerp were, Stickler said: "I would say, this time, it's probably been watching Ruby, especially hit her routines because I've just been with her for a long time now since we were little, so to be able to see her do her job and deliver it nicely out there, it was just great. I'm so proud."
So onwards for the two besties from Wales who continue on their gymnastics journey with all the ups and downs that entails.
