Double top: Meet 5 famous pairs of twins who reached the pinnacle of sports
Twins are famously known for their inseparable connection. Sometimes they choose to pursue the same sport, either partnering up or facing off against each other. RT Sport takes a look at five sets of twins who made their mark in sports history.
Daniel and Henrik Sedin
Ice-hockey stars Daniel and Henrik Sedin are considered among the greatest players in Sweden after winning Olympic and world titles for their home country.
Having played their entire NHL careers for Vancouver Canucks, the twin brothers had a big impact on the team, with Henrik leading the franchise in games played, assists and points, while Daniel topped the team’s best scorer rankings.
Henrik is the only Canuck to have won the prestigious Hart Trophy, awarded to the player judged most valuable to his team, in 2010. The same year he also received the Art Ross Trophy given to the player who leads the NHL in points at the end of the regular season.
Vita and Valentina Semerenko
The Semerenko twins were members of the Ukrainian gold-medal winning biathlon relay squad at the 2014 Olympics in Sochi.
Vita also settled for bronze in the women’s 7.5km sprint race at the same Olympics, but climbed up to second place following the IOC’s decision to annul results of the Russian athlete, Olga Vilukhina, who took silver in the sprint in Sochi.
The Semerenkos are getting ready for the upcoming Olympics in South Korea, where they intend to defend their Olympic title in the women’s relay.
Angela and Amber Cope
Twin American NASCAR drivers Angela and Amber Cope have followed in the footsteps of their grandfather Donald and father, Darren, who also were professional racers.
They started racing in Go-Karting at the age of nine and made their NASCAR debuts at the same race in 2010 at the Camping World Truck Series in Martinsville, where Amber finished 26th and Angela took 30th place.
Apart from racing, the sisters attempted to embark on a modeling career, working with various fashion companies, including shoe brand Luichiny. They were also featured together in Maxim magazine in 2012 in an article headlined, 'Twin Turbos.'
Despite not achieving any notable victories so far, the sisters are notable for becoming the first twins to compete in a national division NASCAR race.
Dina and Arina Averina
The Averina sisters are famous Russian rhythmic gymnasts who made a splash at their first senior 2017 World Championships by sweeping all the gold medals that were awarded in Pesaro, Italy.
Dina earned three gold medals, including the prestigious all-around trophy, with her twin sister Arina scooping the two remaining categories.
The sisters are aiming to represent Russia at the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo to extend the country’s impressive winning streak, which has been unbroken for five Summer Olympics, beginning at the 2000 Sydney Games.
Bob and Mike Bryan
Identical twin brothers from the US, Robert Charles 'Bob' Bryan and Michael Carl 'Mike' Bryan are considered to be the most successful doubles tennis players of all time by winning 16 Grand Slam doubles titles and the coveted Olympic gold.
They topped the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) doubles rankings for 438 weeks, the longest period ever registered in tennis history.
As well as their Olympic gold at the 2012 London Olympics, the Bryan brothers also won Olympic bronze at the 2008 Beijing Games. They're the only duo in Open Era history to win all four Grand Slam men's doubles titles.
The Bryans are also famous for celebrating winning points by chest-bumping each other.
