Mikulak dealing with ankle pain

Sam Mikulak, a Corona del Mar High alum, had a big night Thursday at the U.S. Olympic gymnastics trials, but it came at a price. He is dealing with some adversity with the return of ankle pain.

Mikulak, who broke both his ankles on a floor dismount during the Puerto Rico Cup last August, spent Friday icing down his left ankle, according to the Associated Press. He had a painful finish on vault during the final rotation on Thursday, when he posted the top overall score of the night Thursday with 91.80 points.

Mikulak, a 19-year-old who won the NCAA championship in 2011, is expected to compete in the finals Saturday. He is in third and vying for one of five spots on the U.S. men’s gymnastics team that will compete at the London Games. The team will be announced Sunday.

According to the AP report, Mikulak’s father, Stephen, an orthopedic surgeon and former gymnast, said his son was “doing well,” but added the ankle has been bothersome since Sam broke both ankles in August.

Sam Mikulak said he heavily tapes his ankles before each competition because he endured ankle sprains in January.

— From staff reports