Disappointment Has a Silver (Medal) Lining

Despite failing to win an individual medal, and her tearful insistence that she cost the US the team gold, gymnast Alicia Sacramone is enjoying wild popularity among fans across the world, the San Diego Union-Tribune reports. "I guess it's kind of surprising,” said Sacramone, who has climbed as high as fourth ("volcanic") on Google Trends, "because I didn't have that good an outcome here."

Sacramone botched her go at the balance beam and floor exercise, hurting the team’s score significantly. Nevertheless, dozens of Facebook pages dedicated to her have been created, and though not all are flattering, most are along the lines of "Alicia Sacramone Transfer to SDSU." Says the 20-year-old Brown University sociology major: "The last couple of days have been crazy." (More Alicia Sacramone stories.)