Despite still recovering from a back injury, Port Coquitlam's Robert Watson earned a spot on the podium at the Hungarian Grand Prix men's artistic gymnastics meet.

Watson, 18, won a silver medal on parallel bars with a score of 14.150 points, just behind Croatia's Brez Marko's 14.200 points.

"I didn't expect parallel bars to be my best event but I knew that if I hit my routine I would be able to rank high," noted Watson in a press release.

A relative newcomer to the senior men's national team, Watson didn't qualify in any other final, due to lingering effects of a back injury suffered in earlier competition. He just missed out on top-10 placings in both floor and high bar.

In May, the Richmond Gymnastic Club member tallied four medals at the 2012 Canadian championships, including gold on floor, en route to an allaround bronze.

He picked up silver in high bar and bronze on parallel bars.

Watson began the year by capturing the Elite Canada all-around title.

The teen continues on course to challenge for a spot on the 2016 Olympic team.

In 2010 at the World Youth Olympics, the PoCo teen placed 17th overall.