Félix Dolci 1st Canadian in 60 years to win men's all-around Pan Am gold in artistic gymnastics

Not even a fall on his final apparatus could bump Félix Dolci off the medal podium Monday.

The rising Canadian gymnastics star had built enough of a lead in the men's all-around competition before horizontal (high) bar to hold off Diogo Soares of Brazil and win Canada's 10th gold medal at the Pan Am Games in Santiago, Chile.

The 21-year-old native of Laval, Que., scored over 14 points in four of six apparatus and totalled 82.531, with silver medallist Soares close behind with 81.865. Donnell Whittenburg of the United States earned bronze (81.764).

Dolci, who qualified seventh for the final, is the first Canadian to win all-around Pan Am gold in men's artistic gymnastics since Wilhelm Weiler in 1963.

William Émard of Laval placed 16th in the 24-man field.

Earlier this month, Dolci and Émard helped Canada end a 15-year drought and qualify a men's team for the Paris Olympics next summer.

WATCH | Dolci follows team silver with individual all-around gold in Chile:

On Saturday, Rene Cournoyer, Zachary Clay, Dolci and Émard captured team silver behind the United States.

"I'm expecting a successful year for myself in 2023 in all the international competitions I'll be attempting," Dolci told International Gymnast Online in January. "The best way for me to reach such goals would be by staying healthy and keep pushing in the same direction I've been going since [2022] worlds.

"I'm ready to work like I've never worked before in order to be where I've never been before in my career."

Dolci made an impact 14 months ago at the Commonwealth Games, earning silver in the team event and floor exercise while placing fourth in individual all-around.

A year earlier, he brought home vault silver and bronze in team, all-around and