Sacramone and teammates Shawn Johnson and Nastia Liukin became the first athletes to be named CoverGirl spokeswomen.

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Sacramone, who was a 20-year-old captain of the 2008 team, said the fanfare and attention after the Olympics could be jarring for the team of teenagers.

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Still, being able to capitalize on a gold-medal win is most appealing, which is why global brands try to hedge against the potential of injuries (U.S. gymnast Paul Hamm) and falters (U.S. gymnast Alicia Sacramone) by enlisting a slew of athletes rather than relying on just one.

FORBES: Beijing's Biggest Losers