The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
With 6th national title, Mikulak aims higher
KANSAS CITY, MO. — Samuel Mikulak doesn’t show off the stash of medals he’s earned from the U.S. men’s gymnastics championships through the years. They sit in relative anonymity in the basement of the place he shares with his girlfriend in Colorado.
It’s not that Mikulak doesn’t appreciate what he’s accomplished. It’s just that the two-time Olympian’s standard of success is no longer measured by what he does on home soil. So while Mikulak pumped his fists in joy after clinching his modern era-record sixth national title Saturday night by topping runner-up Yul Moldauer by a staggering 5.550 points, Mikulak remains equal parts perfectionist and realist.
Yes, he’s the most decorated American male gymnast of his generation. He’s also aware that his generation might not be as deep as the ones that came before.
“I guess it is just a weird place for the U.S. right now,” Mikulak said. “You could probably make the argument that maybe this is the easiest time period for USA Gymnastics for a guy like me and so it doesn’t quite hold as much to it right now.”
After picking up his first individual world championship medal by grabbing bronze on high bar last October, the lack of any Olympic hardware is the lone hole left on his resume. And he knows it. “I see the Russians and the Chinese and the Japanese and all the big skills they’re throwing and I’m just trying to live up to those expectations,” Mikulak said.
He remains adamant that he believes his best years are ahead of him. It certainly looks like a possibility after he captured gold in high bar, parallel bars, pommel horse and floor exercise and completed 12 routines over the course of two days without a fall. His overall total of 174.150 also created the largest winning margin of his six national championships.
No wonder he’s hinting at extending his career beyond Tokyo and hasn’t ruled out competing into his 30s. Maybe by then American men will have someone ready to pick up the mantle.
The program is in a generational shift. Mikulak is the lone member of the 2016 Olympic team who hasn’t retired, though alternates Akash Modi and Donnell Whittenburg are still in the mix. Mikulak lamented the lack of competition after the opening round, admitting he wishes there was someone pushing him.
For the moment, there isn’t, though the men put on a considerably better show in the finals than they did on night one. Eight of the top 10 all-around finishers put up better all-around scores Saturday, providing a bit of momentum heading into next month’s world championship selection camp.