NILE Wilson has admitted he could not be happier – despite missing out on a medal in the men's horizontal bar on the final day of the World Gymnastics Championships in China.

The Pudsey teenager finished fourth in Nanning, just two days after the all-around final which he withdrew from due to a wrist injury.

Wilson scored 14.766 points, with Croatian rival Marijo Moznik beating him to bronze on 15.000. Olympic champion Epke Zonderland of the Netherlands claimed gold with 16.225.

Leeds-born Wilson, who took gold in the horizontal bar on his way to four medals at the Commonwealth Games in the summer, was delighted with fourth place in China.

This followed the disappointment of the all-around final, when he showed he has an old head on young shoulders by withdrawing in favour of Max Whitlock, whose silver medal was the best by a British man.

Wilson said: "I didn't really go in with any expectations. I was just happy to be in the final and to be lined up against an Olympic champion was unreal.

"Coming fourth is a great achievement, just below the medals. I'm 18 years old and I could not be happier.

"I know my difficulty is quite low, so I just focused on going really clean. I just tried to enjoy myself, that was the main thing."

The experience also gave Wilson a better idea of what he needs to do to match the likes of Zonderland.

He said: "First, I'm going to increase my difficulty. I think he's gone up to seven-plus (difficulty), so that's my first target, and during the skills he's doing, he's just unbelievable.

"My target and my mission is to beat him – and one day, I think I can do it."

Wilson also explained his decision to withdraw from the earlier final.

He said: "I made the decision the day before. My wrist injury was getting to the point where it was a bit silly to carry on and it could cause a major injury, so I made that decision to help Max get through.

"I think it was the right decision. It could have done serious damage to my wrist and that would have put me out for months.

"I didn't want that. I was thinking more about the future. It's my first World Championships, not the be all and end all of my career."

Earlier in the week, Wilson had helped Great Britain to a best-ever finish of fourth in the men's world team final alongside Whitlock, Dan Keatings, Kristian Thomas, Dan Purvis and Courtney Tulloch.

They were in second place at halfway after the pommel horse, rings and vault.