GYMNASTICS - ARTISTIC: Australian gymnast Olivia Vivian has just fallen short of a podium finish in the uneven bars at the FIG World Challenge Cup in Doha overnight.

The 24-year-old Western Australian scored 12.725 for her routine at the Aspire Dome to finish fourth, just .050 points behind bronze medallist Laura Schulte of Switzerland (12.775).

The gold medal went to Kristyna Palesova of the Czech Republic with a score of 13.425 while her teammate Jana Sikulova claimed silver with 13.175.

An Olympian at the 2008 Beijing Games, Vivian was making a long-awaited return to international competition after suffering a serious back injury.

“It was not the greatest routine tonight in the finals,” said Vivian.

“But you can only learn from the mistakes and work towards better future performances.”

Vivian will now turn her attention to the 2014 Australian Gymnastics Championships in Melbourne (21 May - 1 June) where she will be hoping to qualify for the Australian Commonwealth Games Team.

Australia’s medal hopes at the World Challenge Cup rest with Lauren Mitchell on floor and Mary-Anne Monckton on beam. Both will contest the finals this evening (28/3) — local Doha time: Beam - 18:00; Floor 19:20