Sun Devil athlete and biochemistry grad does it all
ASU gymnast Alex Theodorou will graduate this semester with a degree in biochemistry from the School of Molecular Sciences. Courtesy photo
Editor’s note: This story is part of a series of profiles of notable spring 2025 graduates.
From the gym floor to the lab, ASU biochemistry, math and Barrett, The Honors College scholar Alex Theodorou balances elite gymnastics and academic excellence.
For most college students, balancing a demanding major with a social life is challenging enough. For Theodorou, who will graduate this semester from Arizona State University’s School of Molecular Sciences, the equation included something else entirely: Division I gymnastics.
With a 4.0 GPA, a biochemistry major, a minor in mathematics and a senior thesis investigating heat-related deaths across Arizona, Theodorou exemplifies the modern student-athlete — disciplined, curious and determined.
“There are definitely some days where I’m like, ‘OK, I can’t go out. I need to take this day to get on top of things,” Theodorou said. “But I don’t regret taking a harder major or choosing to study what I want to study. And I would never let the fact that I’m an athlete change that.”
The gymnastics season ran from January to early April, demanding 30 hours a week of training, travel and competition. While her teammates were stretching before road meets against Oregon State and the University of California this semester, Theodorou was taking tests in student-athlete academic centers on those campuses.
“That was the only option I had,” she said. “I’d tell my teammates, ‘OK, bye. I’ll be back, but I have to take this test.’”
A gymnast since the age of 2, Theodorou was placed in a mommy-and-me class as a toddler — though she quickly made it clear she preferred being out on the floor by herself. By the time she was in middle school, her routine meant spending up to six hours a day in the gym, often completing homework in the car between practices. That relentless schedule trained her well for the pressures of college life.
Her “aha moment” for choosing biochemistry as a major came from her innate love for the sciences.
“I went in loving all the sciences — biology, chemistry — and just scrolled through the ASU majors. Biochemistry jumped out at me. It combines the chemistry I enjoy with biology and the human body. It just made sense,” she said
Born and raised in the Phoenix metro area, Theodorou chose ASU for a reason.
“It was the combination of academics and athletics. My family always emphasized that college was about preparing for your future, so I needed a school where I could excel academically,” she said. “But I also wanted to be somewhere where I could contribute athletically. ASU had everything — the strong team, coaches I clicked with and Barrett.”
Outside the classroom and gym, Theodorou dove into research for her honors thesis, which analyzed heat-related deaths across Arizona. While most studies focus on Maricopa County, Theodorou reached out to every county in the state to build a comprehensive and interactive data dashboard.
“It was really interesting to see a broader scale than just Maricopa County,” Theodorou said. “Some counties don’t report everything the same way, but gathering all of that made it possible to visualize the statewide impact of heat-related deaths and maybe help improve public health policy.”
The project highlighted her initiative and capacity to think beyond the lab.
“It started with an idea that might include a team, but with time constraints and the need for a finished product, it became my own project,” she said.
When she needed a break or a place to focus, Theodorou gravitated toward Noble Library.
“That was my go-to spot,” she said. “I’d meet friends, study, grab Starbucks — it was just a comfortable place close to all my classes.”
Despite the whirlwind of commitments, Theodorou found time to reflect and grow.
“Gymnastics taught me a lot — not just about discipline, but about how to work with different personalities, how to be a leader, how to use my voice. I’ve learned to manage different perspectives and think carefully about how to move forward as a group.”
That mindset extends to her future. Now in the midst of applying to medical school, Theodorou hopes to carry her passions for science and service into a career in medicine. If someone gave her $40 million to tackle a global issue, she wouldn’t hesitate to say what she'd use it for.
“I’d focus on public health and climate change. We know heat is only getting worse. I’d want to help prevent more deaths and make sure we’re protecting people as temperatures rise.”
Her advice to other students?
“Take every opportunity you’re given — whether or not you feel like you have time for it. If it interests you, find a way to make it work.”
And if anyone is wondering whether it’s possible to do it all — Theodorou is living proof that, with passion and perseverance, it just might be.
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