ANADIA, Portugal, June 22, 2013 – 2012 Olympian Sam Mikulak of Corona del Mar, Calif./University of Michigan, won the bronze medal on the floor exercise today at the International Gymnastics Federation’s World Challenge Cup – Portugal 2013 in Anadia, Portugal. The medal is the first for Mikulak in the FIG’s World Cup series.
The medals for vault, parallel bars and high bar will be decided tomorrow, as the competition concludes. Mikulak has qualified to all three of tomorrow’s finals.
In the floor final, Mikulak tumbled a one-and-a-half twist to double front before dismounting with a triple full, scoring 15.100 to take the bronze medal. Two-time World floor champion Diego Hypolito of Brazil, 15.375, and Mathias Fahrig of Germany, 15.175, finished first and second, respectively. USA’s Eddie Penev of Penfield, N.Y./Stanford University, scored 14.175 and finished sixth.
Brandon Wynn of Columbus, Ohio/Ohio State University, earned a 15.225 for his still rings routine that included a swing to inverted cross, a back uprise to Maltese and an Azarian Maltese. He finished sixth. Reigning Olympic still rings champion Arthur Zanetti of Brazil took the top spot, 15.800, followed by China’s Yan Mingyong, 15.700, and Argentina’s Federico Molanari, 15.550.
Colombia’s Jhony Perez won the pommel horse gold medal with a 15.200
The event, which has a field of 170 athletes from 33 countries, is part of the FIG’s World Cup series and features individual event competition.