Sam Mikulak posted the highest all-around score, 90.650, on day one of the 2016 U.S. Olympic Trials, followed by Chris Brooks with 89.175, and Danell Leyva with 88.725. For the combined all-around scores, including the two days of P&G Championships and one day of the Trials, Mikulak is first with 272.150, Brooks is second with 269.025, and Jake Dalton is third with 267.325. You can see the full results here.

The final day of competition will be this Saturday, June 25, and the 2016 Olympic Team will be announced following the conclusion of the competition. The men’s selection committee will take into account performances at P&G Championships as well as the Trials. If a gymnast places in the all-around top two, as well as the top three on at least three events, they will automatically make the Olympic team. The other spots will be chosen by the men’s selection committee.

After an exciting, intense day of competition, below are five things you need to know from day one of the Olympic Trials:


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1. Sam Mikulak Remains No. 1 Despite Mistakes

Mikulak started his night with a fall on parallel bars, but came back strong to post the highest all-around score and maintain his three-day all-around lead ahead of Brooks by more than three points. Mikulak is proving he is still the strongest all-around competitor in the U.S., but if he wants to compete with the best in the world, he will need to hit all six events in one competition. Impressively, Mikulak was able to put his fall behind him and come back strong on his other events.

2. Chris Brooks is Still on Fire

Brooks is as determined a competitor as we’ve ever seen. He is currently sitting in second all-around after three days of competition. Tonight, Brooks’ top score came on parallel bars, where he scored a 15.5, but he also broke 15 on vault and high bar. More first pumps to come!


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3. Danell Leyva Climbing the Standings

Leyva is coming from behind after an uncharacteristic performance at P&G Championships, which landed him in 16th all-around after two days of competition. But Leyva, with his new and improved towel, came out to play during day one of the Trials. He finished third all-around, which moved him up to 10th in the three-day standings. He is a gamer and definitely one to watch. Also one to watch: Yin Alvarez while Danell is competing.

4. Darkhorses: Akash Modi and Yul Moldauer

With the combined three-day all-around scores, Modi is in fourth place and Moldauer is in sixth place. These are two gymnasts who don’t always get the recognition they deserve, but they are bringing their A-game to the Trials. Both gymnasts had a fall on their final event—Modi on pommel horse, and Moldauer on high bar—but both mistakes were uncharacteristic and fixable. A first-year senior, many thought 2020 would be Moldauer’s year. Though he does not have the highest difficulty, he makes up for it with impressive execution and beautiful technique. These two may not be front-runners, but they are proving they deserve to be part of the puzzle when selecting the final Olympic team. Neither are currently in the top three on an event, but things will shift when piecing together the team, and the committee may be look to one of these gymnasts for a hit routine they can count on.


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5. Ups & Downs for Whittenburg

Whittenburg’s gymnastics are exciting, powerful, difficult, and crowd-pleasing, but he and many members of the team lack consistency. When he hits, he hits big. He has the potential to put up some huge numbers for Team USA, as displayed by four scores of 15 or higher on day one of Trials, but he hasn’t been accountable this season. Nonetheless, Whittenburg finished in the top five on four events and first on parallel bars tonight, and is currently fifth in the three-day standings.

Of course, every gymnast at the Trials has proven their potential to make an impact. Besides the gymnasts mentioned above, these are other front-runners: Jake Dalton, Paul Ruggeri, John Orozco, and Alex Naddour.


Related:
Results: Men's Olympic Trials, Day 1
U.S. Men’s Rio Team to be Named This Weekend
Storylines to Follow at Men's Olympic Trials