ANTWERP, Belgium -- Vancouver's Scott Morgan qualified for the men's floor final at his first world gymnastics championships on Saturday, finishing eighth in a competitive field.
Japan's Kenzo Shirai won gold with 16.000 points, followed by silver medallist Jacob Dalton of the United States with a score of 15.600. Four-time men's all around world champion Kohei Uchimura of Japan took the bronze at 15.500.
Morgan's routine did not have as high a degree of difficulty as most of the other finalists but he executed a solid routine with a score 14.833 points.
"I have a difficult routine but not a huge start value like the winner from Japan," said Morgan. "I went in and hit an amazing routine for me and stuck most of my landings."
Shirai's full routine included some two dozen twists and he kept the groundbreaking quad for last. After he nailed it, the teenager broke into a broad smile and pumped his fist in jubilation, knowing it was enough to move past early leader Jacob Dalton of the United States.
The last Canadian male gymnast to compete at a world championship final was 2004 Olympic champion Kyle Shewfelt, from Calgary, who won bronze on floor in 2006. Shewfelt, who retired after the 2008 Olympics, remains one of the few Canadians to ever win a medal at the world championships.
"It was incredibly nerve wracking but so exciting to compete here and I want to do it all over again," said the 24-year-old Morgan. "It's one thing to think about it and to dream about it and it's another thing to feel it and it's absolutely amazing."
In the women's competition, defending champion McKayla Maroney beat all-around champion Simone Biles in the vault for an American double.
Biles beat Kyla Ross in the all-around on Friday, and Ross had to settle for silver again when she was beaten by Huang Huidan of China on the uneven bars. Olympic champion Aliya Mustafina of Russia took bronze.
Maroney received 15.724 points, with Biles finishing on 15.595. Hong Un-jong of North Korea took bronze with 15.483.
