TOKYO -- Canada’s men’s gymnastics team fell short of clinching a 2012 Olympic berth at the world championships on Monday but will get another chance to qualify for the Games after placing 12th place in a field of 24 countries.

Defending world and Olympic champion China finished third in qualifying behind Japan and the United States. Germany, Russia, Korea, Romania and Ukraine rounded out the top eight teams, which advance to the team final in Tokyo and the 2012 Olympic Games.

France, Great Britain, Spain, Canada, Brazil, Puerto Rico, Italy and Belarus advanced to the pre-Olympic qualifying event, to take place in January in London, where four more teams will earn Olympic berths.


“Our goal was to place top eight here but we’ll be able to get one of of the other four spots in January,” said Edmonton’s Jackson Payne, who competed in five of six events.

Other members of the team are Nathan Gafuik of Calgary, Ken Ikeda of Abbotsford, B.C., Brandon O’Neill of Edmonton, Kevin Lytwyn of Stoney Creek, Ont., Casey Sandy of Brampton, Ont., and reserve gymnast Jayd Lukenchuk of Saskatoon.

The team’s best event came in the floor exercise with a sixth-place finish.

“We did ok but we’re a little disappointed,” said Lytwyn, Canada’s top performer on rings.

“We’re all very determined to get back into our gyms and get working away again so that we can qualify.”

The Canadian women’s team will also be competing at the final Olympic qualifier after placing 11th in the women’s qualification on Saturday.

In the men’s individual competition Gafuik just missed qualifying for the all around final and is first reserve in 25th spot in a field of more than 200 gymnasts.

Reigning world champion Kohei Uchimura of Japan placed first all around and also qualified for five of six apparatus finals.