Every week umterps.com will feature two gymnasts in Tumble Talk! This week we'll be getting to know rising junior Alexsis Rubio and rising sophomore Aleka Tsiknias!
Hometown
Alexsis: Berlin, N.J.
Aleka: Spartanburg, S.C.

Major
Alexsis: Kinesiology
Aleka: Animal Science

Favorite food in College Park?
Alexsis: Grilled chicken sandwich from Board and Brew.
Aleka: I love the grilled cheese and Caesar salad from Board and Brew.

Favorite Movie?
Alexsis: My favorite movie is Catching Fire because I loved reading the Hunger Games Series when I was younger and have read them multiple times. 
Aleka: My favorite movie is probably My Big Fat Greek Wedding because since I am Greek, the whole movie is more relatable and makes it more fun for me and my family to watch.
 
Dream Job?
Alexsis: Physical Therapist
Aleka: Veterinarian

Favorite event to compete?
Alexsis: Floor
Aleka: Bars

If you could have a superpower what would it be?
Alexsis: Invisibility, because I think it would be fun to be able to hide in plain sight.
Aleka: I would want to be able to fly. With gymnastics, I get pretty close and that's fun but actually being able to fly would be even better. I feel like you would have so much freedom being able to fly. 
 
If you could learn a new skill what would it be?
Alexsis: Braiding hair for meets.
Aleka:  I would want to learn how to sing. 

The best place you have been?
Alexsis: Costa Rica!
Aleka: The coolest place I've ever been is Iceland. I got to take a two week trip there this past summer and explore all kinds of activities including hiking a glacier, whale watching, and horseback riding.

A favorite childhood memory?
Alexsis: An early childhood memory that I have is always doing cartwheels in the outfield when my parents tried to sign me up to play t-ball. I was around five years old!
Aleka: I can remember watching my sister do gymnastics when I was three and being in awe of what she was doing. I started asking my mom if I could do it, but she said that if I still wanted to do it when I turned five that she would let me start classes, which she did.

Have you ever met someone famous?
Alexsis: Simone Biles 
Aleka: Zion Williamson. He and I actually went to the same high school. 

Do you have any weird food combinations that you love?
Alexsis: Pickles and pepperoni.
Aleka:: Eggo waffle with PB & J on top!

Dream Vacation?
Alexsis: Santorini, Greece
Aleka: Bora Bora

Favorite show right now?
Alexsis: All-American
Aleka: The Office

If you had your own intro song, what would it be?
Alexsis: Turn All The Lights On by T-Pain
Aleka: Run the World (Girls) by Beyonce.

If you could play another sport in college, what would it be?
Alexsis: Soccer
Aleka: Tennis

Go-to Karaoke Song? 
Alexsis: Lay Me Down- By Sam Smith
Aleka: I Want It That Way by the Backstreet Boys

Your favorite holiday?
Alexsis: My favorite holiday is Christmas because I get to spend time with my friends and family
Aleka: My favorite holiday is Christmas because I get to spend time with my friends and family

What app are you currently using the most?
Alexsis: Instagram
Aleka: Snapchat

What is the best gift you have ever received?
Alexsis: The best gift I have ever received is going to Costa Rica for the summer.
Aleka: The best gift I've ever received is my dog when I was eight. My dad surprised me and my sister with a 10-week old westie puppy around Christmas time.

Who would you want to play you in a movie?
Alexsis: Vanessa Hudgens  
Aleka: Jennifer Aniston
 
 Is there anything you wish would come back in fashion?
Alexsis: Scrunchies as an accessory 
Aleka: I like ripped jeans but those are already coming back. 

Why Maryland?
Alexsis: I chose Maryland because it is exactly what I was looking both academically and athletically while still being close to home. One of the very first things that caught my eye is the pride that everyone has, especially for Maryland athletics and all of the support that comes with it. I love being a part of such a strong program and having incredible teammates and coaches who are family to me. 
Aleka: I chose Maryland because as soon as I stepped on campus and met the coaches, it felt like my home.During my first visit, I took a tour of campus and met Coach Erinn. I had made up my mind that that's where I wanted to be for my college experience. I'd been visiting Maryland for years before college and never had a change of mind. Now, that I'm finally on campus and get to experience Maryland as a student, it has not disappointed. I'm sad my freshman year was cut short but can't wait to come back for the next three years.

Biggest pet-peeve?
Alexsis: When people don't finish their sentences. 
Aleka: I can't stand people that walk slowly in front of me. 

What would you like your legacy to be?
Alexsis: I would want my legacy to be someone who helps people reach their goals through my career. I want to be able to help athletes be the best they can through helping them heal and become stronger. I also would like to be recognized a trustworthy and reliable person, and someone you can always come to for anything. 
Aleka: I would like to inspire young girls to believe in themselves through the power of hard work and not giving up. Having this mindset has helped me in gymnastics because there are so many ups and downs in this sport that being able to persevere makes for a great gymnast. This not only applies to gymnastics but life in general also. 

What is your hobby?
Alexsis: Photography & video editing 
Aleka: I really enjoy photography and baking. 
 
Something we don't already know about you?
Alexsis: I have a dairy allergy.
Aleka: Something you don't know about me is that I played piano for six years.

What is your favorite family tradition?
Alexsis: My favorite family tradition is always having Thanksgiving at my grandma's house and getting to see all of my family. 
Aleka: My favorite family tradition is when me and my sister were younger, around Christmas time, my mom would bring out our Elf on the Shelf. At the time, we didn't know our mom moved it and we thought it was the funniest thing that it could move and bring us gifts. We always looked forward to finding it the next day. 
 
Who is your role model?
Alexsis: My greatest role model is mother. I aspire to be as strong and supportive of a mom as she is and hope to embody the example she set for me for as long as I can remember. I would not be where I am today without her and am extremely thankful the amount of support she has shown me throughout my gymnastics career and all she has done to help me reach my goals. 
Aleka: My mom is my role model. She is the strongest person I know and never lets anything get her down. She is always optimistic and teaches me to be the same. 
 
Something impressive you know how to do:
Alexsis: I can speak two languages 
Aleka: The most impressive thing I can do outside of gymnastics is bake a cake from scratch. My most impressive cake I've baked was a 4th of July cake and when you cut it open, the cake made an American flag.