Clare Brunson
Encyclopedia
Clare Brunson is a retired elite acrobatic gymnast
who competed as the top in a mixed-pair team with elite acrobatic gymnast Michael Rodrigues
, also now retired.
Brunson and Rodrigues were the second U.S. mixed pair (after Arthur Davis
and Shenea Booth
) to medal at the Acrobatic Gymnastics World Championships
, earning the bronze medal in the all-around at the 2006 World Championships in Coimbra
, Portugal
.
Also in 2006, Rodrigues and Brunson won the all-around silver medal at the 2006 World Cup in Puurs
, Belgium
, and they won the all-around, dynamic and balance at the U.S. National Acrobatic Gymnastics
Championships for the second straight year.
In 2005, Rodrigues and Brunson placed fourth all-around at the 2005 World Games
in Duisburg
, Germany
.
Brunson and Rodrigues also won their first national all-around title in 2005, placing first in the all-around, dynamic and balance at the 2005 U.S. National Championships in Louisville, Kentucky
.
The pair trained together at Empire AcroGymnastics in Riverside, California
, Mission Hills Gymnastics, also in Riverside, and Realis Gymnastics Academy in Moreno Valley, California. Their coaches included Youri Vorobyev, who is now owner and head coach of Realis Gymnastics Academy.
Prior to her partnership with Rodrigues, Brunson also competed as the top in a mixed pair with elite acrobatic gymnast Kristopher Duncan (now retired). Brunson and Duncan trained together at Empire AcroGymnastics.
Brunson and Duncan placed second all-around in the 12-19 category at the 2004 International Age Group Games in Lievin
, France
.
The pair also placed second all-around at the U.S. National Championships in Palm Springs, California
, where they also earned second-place finishes in dynamic and balance.
Prior to her partnership with Duncan, Brunson competed as the top in a women’s pair with acrobatic gymnast Olivia Solo (now retired). In 2002, the pair won the all-around at the Flanders International Acro Cup in Puurs, and they placed second all-around at the 2002 World Age Group Games in Riesa
, Germany
.
Brunson and Solo placed second all-around at the 2002 U.S. National Championships in New Orleans, Louisiana
. The pair trained together at Empire.
While Brunson competed as an elite athlete, she also worked as a performer at Sea World
in San Diego, California
and at the San Diego Zoo
.
Acrobatic gymnastics
Acrobatic gymnastics is a competitive partner sport combining the strength, flexibility and technical precision of gymnastics with the grace and musicality of dance as well as the trust and camaraderie of a dedicated partnership...
who competed as the top in a mixed-pair team with elite acrobatic gymnast Michael Rodrigues
Michael Rodrigues (acrobatic gymnast)
Michael Rodrigues is a retired elite acrobatic gymnast who now performs in the Cirque du Soleil show Viva ELVIS in Las Vegas, Nevada, along with his former mixed-pairs partner, retired elite acrobatic gymnast Kristin Allen.Allen and Rodrigues won the gold medal in the mixed-pair all-around at the...
, also now retired.
Brunson and Rodrigues were the second U.S. mixed pair (after Arthur Davis
Arthur Davis (gymnast)
Arthur Davis is a retired U.S. acrobatic gymnast who won two world championship titles while completing as the base in a mixed pair with top Shenea Booth ....
and Shenea Booth
Shenea Booth
Shenea Booth is an American acrobatic gymnast who represented the United States of America at the 2001 World Games, the 2002 World Championships and the 2004 World Championships in the Mixed Pair event, along with her partner, Arthur Davis....
) to medal at the Acrobatic Gymnastics World Championships
Acrobatic Gymnastics World Championships
The Acrobatic Gymnastics World Championships are the World Championships for acrobatic gymnastics. Before 2006 they were known as the World Sports Acrobatics Championships...
, earning the bronze medal in the all-around at the 2006 World Championships in Coimbra
Coimbra
Coimbra is a city in the municipality of Coimbra in Portugal. Although it served as the nation's capital during the High Middle Ages, it is better-known for its university, the University of Coimbra, which is one of the oldest in Europe and the oldest academic institution in the...
, Portugal
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
.
Also in 2006, Rodrigues and Brunson won the all-around silver medal at the 2006 World Cup in Puurs
Puurs
Puurs is a municipality located in the Belgian province of Antwerp. It is located in the Flemish Region. The municipality comprises the towns of Breendonk, Liezele, Kalfort, Ruisbroek and Puurs proper. On January 1, 2006 Puurs had a total population of 16,029...
, Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
, and they won the all-around, dynamic and balance at the U.S. National Acrobatic Gymnastics
Acrobatic gymnastics
Acrobatic gymnastics is a competitive partner sport combining the strength, flexibility and technical precision of gymnastics with the grace and musicality of dance as well as the trust and camaraderie of a dedicated partnership...
Championships for the second straight year.
In 2005, Rodrigues and Brunson placed fourth all-around at the 2005 World Games
World Games
The World Games, first held in 1981, are an international multi-sport event, meant for sports, or disciplines or events within a sport, that are not contested in the Olympic Games...
in Duisburg
Duisburg
- History :A legend recorded by Johannes Aventinus holds that Duisburg, was built by the eponymous Tuisto, mythical progenitor of Germans, ca. 2395 BC...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
.
Brunson and Rodrigues also won their first national all-around title in 2005, placing first in the all-around, dynamic and balance at the 2005 U.S. National Championships in Louisville, Kentucky
Louisville, Kentucky
Louisville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Kentucky, and the county seat of Jefferson County. Since 2003, the city's borders have been coterminous with those of the county because of a city-county merger. The city's population at the 2010 census was 741,096...
.
The pair trained together at Empire AcroGymnastics in Riverside, California
Riverside, California
Riverside is a city in Riverside County, California, United States, and the county seat of the eponymous county. Named for its location beside the Santa Ana River, it is the largest city in the Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario metropolitan area of Southern California, 4th largest inland California...
, Mission Hills Gymnastics, also in Riverside, and Realis Gymnastics Academy in Moreno Valley, California. Their coaches included Youri Vorobyev, who is now owner and head coach of Realis Gymnastics Academy.
Prior to her partnership with Rodrigues, Brunson also competed as the top in a mixed pair with elite acrobatic gymnast Kristopher Duncan (now retired). Brunson and Duncan trained together at Empire AcroGymnastics.
Brunson and Duncan placed second all-around in the 12-19 category at the 2004 International Age Group Games in Lievin
Liévin
Liévin is a commune in the Pas-de-Calais department in northern France.-Overview:The city of Liévin is an old mining city of Pas-de-Calais. Near Lens, this modest-sized city nevertheless has several nursery schools, schools, colleges, a university, a swimming pool, a city library, a cultural and...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
.
The pair also placed second all-around at the U.S. National Championships in Palm Springs, California
Palm Springs, California
Palm Springs is a desert city in Riverside County, California, within the Coachella Valley. It is located approximately 37 miles east of San Bernardino, 111 miles east of Los Angeles and 136 miles northeast of San Diego...
, where they also earned second-place finishes in dynamic and balance.
Prior to her partnership with Duncan, Brunson competed as the top in a women’s pair with acrobatic gymnast Olivia Solo (now retired). In 2002, the pair won the all-around at the Flanders International Acro Cup in Puurs, and they placed second all-around at the 2002 World Age Group Games in Riesa
Riesa
Riesa is a town in the district of Meißen in the Free State of Saxony, Germany. It is located at the river Elbe, approx. 40 km northwest of Dresden.The world's first 110 kV power line was inaugurated between Riesa and Lauchhammer in 1912....
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
.
Brunson and Solo placed second all-around at the 2002 U.S. National Championships in New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans is a major United States port and the largest city and metropolitan area in the state of Louisiana. The New Orleans metropolitan area has a population of 1,235,650 as of 2009, the 46th largest in the USA. The New Orleans – Metairie – Bogalusa combined statistical area has a population...
. The pair trained together at Empire.
While Brunson competed as an elite athlete, she also worked as a performer at Sea World
Sea World
Sea World is a marine mammal park, oceanarium, and theme park located on the Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia. It includes rides, animal exhibits and other attractions, and promotes conservation through education and through the rescue and rehabilitation of sick, injured or orphaned wildlife. The...
in San Diego, California
San Diego, California
San Diego is the eighth-largest city in the United States and second-largest city in California. The city is located on the coast of the Pacific Ocean in Southern California, immediately adjacent to the Mexican border. The birthplace of California, San Diego is known for its mild year-round...
and at the San Diego Zoo
San Diego Zoo
The San Diego Zoo in Balboa Park, San Diego, California, is one of the most progressive zoos in the world, with over 4,000 animals of more than 800 species...
.