Tokyo Olympic bronze medalist Mai Murakami provisionally topped the preliminary round in women's floor exercise at the gymnastics world championships on Monday, the first major international tournament of any sport in Japan since the Summer Games.
The 25-year-old, who became the first Japanese female gymnast to medal in an individual event at the Olympics, scored 14.166 points at Kitakyushu General Gymnasium, the best tally after gymnasts in seven of 10 groups finished their performances.
Murakami, carrying a left ankle injury, hinted prior to the tournament that it will be her final career appearance.