Newport Coast’s Sam Mikulak in second at world gymnastics meeting

After three of the four qualifying subdivisions at the world gymnastics trials in Antwerp, Belgium, Sam Mikulak of Newport Coast stood second to Japan’s defending world champion, Kohei Uchimura. The fourth qualifying session will be Tuesday morning.

Uchimura, who has three world all-around championships plus the 2012 Olympic all-around gold medal, scored 91.924 points and Mikulak had 89.532. China’s Lin Chaopan was third with 89.430.

The top 24 scorers will advance to the all-around finals. Qualifying scores are erased. It is likely that Uchimura and Mikulak will be in the group of the six highest scorers for the all-around finals.

There are no team champions this year, only all-around and individual event winners.

Mikulak, 20, who is competing in his first world championships, said it would be an honor to be in the same group as Uchimura. “I will always look up to him, winning worlds three years in a row and the Olympic Games,” Mikulak said. “No other gymnast has done that. He is definitely my hero but he has also done something I am striving to reach.”

Of Uchimura, 24, Mikulak added, “I just want to see how close to him I can get. He has a lot higher start values than me. So if he goes out and hits it, I am not going to be hurt if I don’t win.”

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