By Luan Peszek
Photo by Matt Jaskulski

2009 World Games gold-medalists Kristin Allen, 18, and her mixed pair partner Michael Rodrigues, 27, both of Livermore, Calif., and West Coast Training Center, won the mixed-pair gold medal at the 2010 World Acrobatic Gymnastics Championships in Wroclaw, Poland. This is the USA's sixth straight world medal in mixed pair.

"Michael and Kristen have worked so hard for this achievement," said Steve Penny, president of USA Gymnastics. "Their performance reflects their commitment and dedication, and we are thrilled for them."

Rodrigues said, “Winning the gold medal was one of the greatest moments in my entire gymnastics career! I was overwhelmed with happiness, pride and a huge sense of accomplishment. I felt all our hard work and dedication turned into realization all in one moment.”

Allen said, “Winning Worlds was the realization of a dream I have had since I was 9. The accomplishment is sound validation that our many years of hard-work and sacrifice paid off.”

Recording a score of 28.600 in their tango combined finals routine, 0.55 higher than their qualifying combined routine score, Allen and Rodrigues claimed the mixed-pair gold medal. Russian mixed pair Tatiana Okulova and Revaz Gurgenidze captured the silver with a 28.300.China's Huang Yan and Zhang Shaolong took the bronze, posting a 27.858.

Allen and Rodrigues led qualifying with a total score of 84.810.Competing their first two qualifying routines, the duo posted a 28.410 in balance, 28.350 in dynamic, and a 28.050 in combined to reach the finals. In the finals, which were new-life, the top 8 pairs performed a combined routine.

USA Gymnastics caught up with both Kristin Allen and Michael Rodrigues and here's what they had to say!