TWIST met up with Olympic Gold and Silver medalist McKayla Maroney in NYC yesterday and had so much fun chatting about her viral "not impressed" face, the new product that has her totally impressed now, and her recurring role on the hit CW show Hart of Dixie!
TWIST: You had a little bit of disappointment when you fell in your last vault at the Olympics last summer, but the face you made ended up going viral! What was going through your head at that time?
McKayla: When I went to do my last vault at the Olympics I had a fractured shin and a broken toe and I didn't make it, I landed on my butt! It was a very odd moment, I was totally shocked, I didn't know if I was dreaming or not! So I got up and immediately they were like 'OK put your sweats on we're going to get your medal,' so I get up onto the podium and I hear the national anthem play for another country, so that was when I did my 'not impressed face,' but we're forgetting about that and moving on from that! I'm now impressed with the new 7 UP ten! u>
TWIST: Awesome, can you tell us about 7 Up Ten and why girls will love it?
McKayla: I love 7 Up Ten, it tastes just like a regular soda and even though I do drink water usually, I still like to have a soda every now and then! When I'm working out in the gym I don't like to come out of a workout and drink a bunch of sugar so this is just a better choice!
TWIST: Now, you've been on top of the podium before too, what's that like to get a gold medal?
McKayla: I had been a world champion before, and our team won gold at the Olympics, and hearing your own country's national anthem is the best feeling. Knowing that you did something for your country -- not just for yourself or even for your team but for your country -- it's incredible!
TWIST: You've started acting a little bit too, tell us about your experience on Hart Of Dixie!
McKayla: Yes! I'll be in a new episode March 5, and I have a part where I'm super duper sassy! I love Hart of Dixie, it's just a feel good show and you feel happy after it -- I'm really happy to be a part of it. Plus, the cast is amazing! I love Rachel Bilson, she's such a good actress and so down to earth. Her character Zooey on the show reminds me of her in person, she's so fun, so nice and so generous and she was so nice! I caught her doing the not impressed face a couple times on the show -- I made sure she stopped doing that!
TWIST: Tell us about your relationship with the other girls on the Olympic team -- the Fierce 5?
McKayla: People ask us all the time if we're really close since we're always competing with each other, but the truth is we are! We never could have gotten to the Olympics without really being best friends.
TWIST: Is acting something you think you'll pursue more?
McKayla: I've been wanting to get into acting my whole life, but being in the gym 8 hours a day makes it physically impossible! I kind of have to pick one or the other and right now I'm getting back into the gym, but maybe after this next Olympics I'll really get into acting! I'm definitely having a lot of with it.
TWIST: And so 2016 Rio is on?
McKayla: Yes Ma'am that is the final goal! The Olympics are just so amazing, they inspire so many people and it gives me chills to watch other athletes who have worked their entire lives to achieve that goal, to think I did something like that it's still just mindblowing!
TWIST: Thanks so much, McKayla!
McKayla: Thanks TWIST!
Photo: Courtesy of Ketchum PR