[4] Mykkanen also trained intensely with the Irvine Novaquatics, an exceptional program where he was directed by International Swimming Hall of Fame Coach Flip Darr.

In the summer of his Senior year, he swam a 3:58.83 in the 400-meter freestyle, taking a first place at the Industry Hills World Invitational Swimming Meet on July 23, 1984.

[11] After the Olympics, he enrolled at University of California at Berkeley under International Swimming Hall of Fame head coach Nort Thornton from around 1984-1988, and swam with the team.

The U. Cal Berkeley team won NCAA Championships in 1979 and 1980, prior to Mykkanen's enrollment, though they continued to be rated in the top ten most years under Thornton's tenure.

[12][2] As a U. California sophomore, he placed second in the 400-meter free with a time of 3:52.40, at the Pan Pacific Swimming Championships in Tokyo in August, 1985.