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Michael Rodrigues
Age 26 / Livermore CA /
Senior Elite Mixed Pair (Base)
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| Level of education / major |
| N/A |
| |
| Years involded in Acrobatic Gymnastics |
| 13 years |
| |
| How much time per week do you practice? |
| 15.5 hours |
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| What age did you start Acrobatic Gymnastics? |
| 13 years old |
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| How did you learn about Acrobatic Gymnastics? |
I learned about Acro while taking gymnastics classes at a local gym. There was an Acro team that trained in that |
| gym. I saw the team practicing and thought it looked like fun, so I asked my gymnastics instructor if that was a class |
| that I could participate in? He then introduced me to the Acro team coach who invited me to their practice. I was |
| hooked from that day forward. |
| |
| What are the main features of Acrobatic Gymnastics that interest you than any other sport? |
Acro is a sport like none other. It requires athletes to be extremely well rounded. Acro demands strength, agility, |
| flexibility, grace, mental toughness, as well as teamwork, communication, and trust. Acro holds endless possibilities |
| for improvement. There will always be new and more difficult skills to learn and perfect. |
| |
| What are your goals in Acrobatic Gymnastics? |
I have reached many of my goals in Acro, but the one I have not yet reached is that of earning the title of World |
| Champion. |
| |
| What do you like about being at West Coast Training Center? |
| WCTC has become one of the strongest teams and has produced some the countries best athletes. WCTC has a great |
| comradery among the athletes and a very supportive group of parents. The team has stayed strong, stuck together, and |
| persevered even through hardships. |
| |
| How has Acrobatic Gymnastics helped you grow as a person? |
I have spent half of my life involved with Acro, and I feel that it has greatly affected the person I have become. Acro |
| has made me strong not only physically, but mentally as well. Training at the Elite level and more importantly |
| competing at the World level, has taught me how to concentrate and focus my energy into what it is that I want to |
| achieve. Acro, being the partner based sport that it is, has taught me the extreme value of trust, dedication, and |
| respect. Trust flows in all directions in the Acro partnership dynamic, but being a base requires earning the most |
| trust. Also, training towards your Acro goals is not a solo act and you cannot reach them alone, you only reach them |
| if you and your partner(s) work hard together. |
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| What are your accomplishments in Acrobatic Gymnastics? |
Designated as a World Class Gymnast by the Federation of International Gymnastics |
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USAG Senior National Team Member: |
| 2008 -2009 / 2006-2007 / 2005-2006 / 2003-2004 / 2002-2003 |
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USA Gymnastics National Awards: |
2008 - Glen Sundby Award for Outstanding Pair/Group Performance / 2008 - Best Choreography |
2008 - High Score of the Meet (Elite) / 2006 - Athletes of the Year / 2006 - Most Outstanding Base |
2006 - High Score of the Meet (Elite) / 2006 - Sportsperson of the Year / 2005 - Athletes of the Year |
2005 - High Score of the Meet (Elite) / 2003 - Sportsperson of the Year / 2002 - George Nissen Award |
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| International Results: |
2008 World Championships; Glasgow, Scotland - 2nd AA / 2006 World Championships; Coimbra, Portugal - 3rd AA |
| 2006 World Cup; Puurs, Belgium - 2nd AA / 2005 World Games; Duisburg, Germany - 4th AA |
| 2005 Machuga Cup; Krasnodar, Russia - 1st AA / 2005 Freedom Cup; Landover, Maryland - 1st Bal., 1st Dyn., 1st AA |
| 2004 Flander's International Acro Cup; Puurs, Belgium - 3rd AA |
| 2003 Freedom Cup; Jacksonville, Florida - 2nd Bal., 2nd Dyn., 2nd AA |
| 2002 Winterthur Cup; Winterthur, Switzerland - 2nd AA |
| |
National Results:
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2008 National Championships - 1st Bal., 1st Dyn., 1st AA / 2006 National Team Trials - 1st AA |
| 2006 National Team Trials - 1st AA / 2006 National Championships - 1st Bal., 1st Dyn., 1st AA |
| 2006 World Team Trials - 1st AA /
2005 National Team Trials - 1st AA |
| 2005 National Championships - 1st Bal., 1st Dyn., 1st AA / 2004 National Championships - 3rd Bal., 3rd Dyn., 3rd AA |
| 2004 World Team Trials - 2nd AA / 2003 National Championships - 3rd Bal., 3rd Dyn., 3rd AA |
| 2002 National Team Trials - 3rd AA /
2002 National Championships - 3rd Bal., 3rd Dyn., 3rd AA |
