Gibbs, who set two national records this year at the 2011 New Zealand National Powerlifting Championships, said he lifted 150kg, 210kg and 230kg in the bench, dead lift and squat respectively in Canada but failed to improve his numbers on the successive two lifts in each section.
His total at the world event was 42.5kg down on his total lifted at the Kiwi nationals this year.
"My strength and mental focus was not there on the day ... I was dehydrated and completely exhausted after my last attempt.
"But the competition has given me a huge wake-up call about what I need to win world events.
"Now I have seen and experienced all this myself, I still have a further three years in the juniors to strive for the number one ranking."
Gibbs said his tilt at the world event was made possible through sponsors that included Wai Weight Gym, where he trains, and Breadcraft Wairarapa, where he works.
"And I wouldn't have gotten far without my training partners Tony, Spike and Tim either," Gibbs said of his fellow Wai Weight Powerlifting team members.
Gibbs competed in Canada alongside two other junior Kiwi powerlifters - Aucklanders John Strachan and Andrew Burge.
Strachan, in the 66kg class, finished in seventh place, 50kg below his best, and Burge failed all attempts on the bench and "bombed" on his total.
Gibbs said he had been invited to shift to Auckland and train at no cost at a gym in the city and he was seriously considering the offer.