Silver medalist Israel's Dolgopyat, gold medalist Philippines' Yulo and bronze medlaist China's Xiao (L-R) pose for a photo at the World Gymnastics Championships in Stuttgart, October 12, 2019. /VCG Photo
After a disappointing fourth finish in all-around, China's Xiao Ruoteng won the only medal for China on Saturday in the men's floor exercise final in the 2019 World Gymnastics Championships.
Tumbling a Randi, 3 1/2 to barani, and double-double for the 6.2 difficulties, Xiao tried his best to win the bronze with 14.933.
"I think I did a really good job today," said Xiao, the 2017 world All-around champion. "It's not easy as an all-arounder to get on to the podium for the apparatus finals, so I'm really excited and happy. Yesterday I was more nervous, but today I was here to compete with the specialists. So I was much more relaxed."
Carlos Edriel Yulo of the Philippines, who already made history in 2018 with his bronze medal on floor, became the Philippines' first world champion in any gymnastics discipline.
Xiao added that he noticed Yulo had made great progress in the recent years and his moves were always hard, but he was still surprised to see Yulo crowned.
"I thought Dolgopyat might be the best and I took him as the strongest competitor. Dolgopyat got a higher mark than me, which is predictable, and now I seem to have another top competitor," Xiao said.
Artem Dolgopyat of Israel settled for a silver and he hoped to upgrade it to gold in the future.
Carlos Edriel Yulo celebrates as he becomes the first ever Filipino gymnast to win a gold medal at the World Gymnastics Championships in Stuttgart, October 12, 2019. /VCG Photo
Meanwhile, U.S. gymnastics queen Simone Biles equalled the all-time record of 23 world championship medals but insisted she had little time to reflect on her astonishing feat with two more finals still to come.
The 22-year-old Biles needs one more medal from Sunday's beam and floor finals in Stuttgart to overtake Belarusian gymnast Vitaly Scherbo.
"I don't have time to think about these things. I think of my performances – and then dinner," Biles said when asked about equalling Scherbo's record from the 1990s.
Biles took her third gold of the week – after all-around and team success – in the vault final ahead of U.S. teammate Jade Carey, who finished with silver while Britain's Ellie Downie took bronze.
"I was just happy to land it very well," said Biles after her second vault confirmed victory. "Because in practice... I was always overshooting, so I was pleased to have a nice, peaceful landing."
Biles, a four-time Olympic champion, stretched her own record tally of world titles to 17 and can potentially leave Stuttgart with five medals.
Simone Biles claims a record-equalling 23rd world championship medal in Stuttgart, October 12, 2019. /VCG Photo
Biles later missed the chance of a second medal on Saturday, finishing fifth in the uneven bars final behind winner Nina Derwael of Belgium, who retained the title she won in Doha last year.
"I'm excited with the performances I put out today, obviously no medal on the bars, but there was (only) a slim chance I was going to (get one)," admitted Biles.
The US star is "99.9 percent" sure this will be her last world championships, but gives little thought to potentially making history on Sunday.
"I just keep a clear head going into all the finals," she said.
"I try to think of it one at a time, cherish the moment, compete with pride and just have fun."
Britain's Becky Downie, 27, took silver on the uneven bars behind Derwael, less than two hours after younger sister Ellie, 20, earned bronze behind Biles on the vault.
(With input from Xinhua and AFP)