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Scott Morgan, king of the Commonwealth

North Vancouver gymnast wins two golds, four medals total at Glasgow Games

North Vancouver gymnast Scott Morgan landed on the podium four times at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, claiming medals of each colour while taking an extra trip up to the top step. Morgan won gold on back-to-back days to finish off the gymnastics competition, first winning on the rings on Thursday and then flying back to the top of the standings on vault on Friday. The Flicka Gymnastics Club member racked up a score of 14.733 in the vault final to soar past Kristian Thomas of England who was second with 14.499 points and Wah Toon Hoe of Singapore, third at 14.195.

"It's been awesome," said Morgan in a Gymnastics Canada release. "You want to do well and for it to never end. It's been a fantastic games and Glasgow has done a great job."

Morgan was the top qualifier coming into Thursday's ring final and he didn't disappoint, scoring 15.100 points to win by a wide margin over fellow Canadian Kevin Lytwyn of Stoney Creek, Ont. Daniel Pervis of Scotland won bronze with a score of 14.766.

"It was spectacular to get up there on the podium and hear the Canadian anthem," said Morgan. "It's something you dream about as an athlete."

Morgan said he felt a little shaky at first but gained confidence as his routine progressed.

"I felt I've had better routines in some respects but as far as execution and form this one was right up there with my best," said Morgan.

Morgan's silver medal came in the floor event as he was one of just two gymnasts to score higher than 15 points along with gold medal winner Max Whitlock of England. Whitlock topped the eight-man field in the final with 15.533 points, followed by Morgan in second with 15.133 and David Bishop of New Zealand in third at 14.550.

Morgan's bronze medal came in the team competition as he helped lead the way for the Canadian men as they finished third behind England and Scotland.

The 25-year-old started gymnastics at age four and at age six did a short stint as a pint-sized, highflying mini sidekick for Vancouver Grizzlies mascot Grizz. He dropped out of elite gymnastics while attending high school at Seycove secondary but picked it up again in 2007 before his Grade 12 year and made his national team debut in 2011.

Last year Morgan made his first ever appearance at the world gymnastics championships and finished eighth in the floor final, becoming the first Canadian male gymnast to qualify for a world championship event final since 2004 Olympic champion Kyle Shewfelt won a bronze medal on the floor at the 2006 worlds.

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Morgan wasn't the only North Shore athlete to hit the podium in Scotland. Swimmer Emily Overholt, just 16-years-old, helped her team win silver in the 4x200-m freestyle relay. She also made the final in the 400-m individual medley, finishing fifth in a time 4:37.89, the third fastest time ever for a Canadian. Overholt also took part in the 200-m butterfly, finishing 15th.

North Shore athletes were active in field hockey as Taylor Curran helped the men's team to a strong sixth-place finish. On the women's side North Shore stars Jessica Barnett, Hannah Haughn, Karli Johansen and Holly Stewart all suited up as Canada battled to an eight-place finish.

North Vancouver's Emma Friesen was on board for the diving competition. She finished 11th in the one-metre springboard final while failing to qualify for the three-metre board final, finishing 13th.

Chris Winter finished sixth in the men's steeplechase while fellow North Vancouverite Jessica Smith also hit the track, making the semifinals in the women's 800 m but failing to advance to the final.

West Vancouver's Harry Jones suited up with the men's rugby sevens team. They finished third in their group putting them into the Bowl tournament which they won, defeating Cook Islands handily in the final by a score of 50-7. West Vancouver lawn bowler Tim Mason played in the men's triples competition where the Canadian team failed to advance to the quarterfinals.