Newport Beach Olympian Entered in Six Medal Events

NEWPORT BEACH, CA—Sam Mikulak of Newport Coast has been entered in six events today as part of the five-member U.S. team that will compete in the men's gymnastics team final in the Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.

Mikulak had the highest scores in Saturday's qualifying in floor exercise. He will also compete today on the pommel horse, vault, parallel bars and horizontal bar.

The U.S. finished second in Saturday's qualifying with 270.405 points. China finished first with 270.461. The qualifying scores do not carry over to today's finals.

The competition is set to begin at noon and can be seen online at NBCOlympics.com. It will be shown on a delayed basis by NBC on its prime-time broadcast, which begins at 8 p.m.

According to parents Stephen and Tina Mikulak, who were interviewed on NBCLA live from Rio, both competed on the gymnastics teams in California. Their son, Sam Mikulak began gymnastics when he was 2 years old.

Rising to international competition, Sam Mikulak broke both of his ankles during a Puerto Rico floor routine in 2011. Rather than being devastated by the injury, his parents encouraged him to focus on other aspects of his gymnastic career before the 2012 London Olympics.

"He worked on ring strength and pommel horse strength during that time," father Dr. Stephen Mikulak said. "He enjoys the journey, and can find the positive in any situation."

Mikulak was part of the U.S. team that finished fifth in the 2012 Olympics where he also finished fifth in the vault.

"With Sam, there is always a lesson to be learned," mother Tina said of her gymnast son. "A little injury can open the door to something greater."

The only U.S. gold medal in the men's gymnastics team final came in the 1984 Los Angeles Games in a weakened field without the Soviet bloc, which boycotted the games. U.S. won the bronze medal in 2008 and the silver medal in 2004.

The 23-year-old Mikulak also qualified for Wednesday's men's all-around finals and the floor exercise, which will be held Sunday, and horizontal bar, which will be held Aug. 16. Mikulak has won four consecutive all-around national championships.

Mikulak graduated from Corona del Mar High School in 2010, then competed for Michigan, winning the NCAA all-around championship in 2011, 2013 and 2014 and finishing second in 2012. He holds the NCAA records for the highest all- around score (93.70) and highest score on the parallel bars (16.10).

Mikulak, in his off time, is a co-founder of an herbal tea company called MatéBros with two of his gymnastics friends from home, according to his TeamUSA.org bio. He enjoys long boarding, beatboxing, skeet shooting and playing tennis, soccer, football and golf...and above all else, his favorite event is the pommel horse.

Watch Sam Mikulak live today at noon, online at NBCOlympics.comor tonight, on NBC on its prime-time broadcast, which begins at 8 p.m.