Catching up with Alicia Sacramone

Alicia Sacramone was the de facto captain of the U.S. women's team that won the team silver medal at the 2008 Olympic Games, as well as finished fourth on vault. She has seven career world medals, including two gold, three silver and two bronze. At the 2007 World Championships, Sacramone helped the U.S. women claim the USA's second world team gold medal in history and the first won at a World Championships held outside of the United States. At the 2007 Worlds, she also garnered the silver medal on floor exercise and the bronze medal on vault. Sacramone earned world silver medals in the team competition and on vault in 2006. At the 2005 World Championships, she won floor exercise and claimed the bronze medal on vault. She has six career U.S. titles, including four on vault (2005-08) and two on floor exercise (2005-06).

Since Beijing, Sacramone has attended New York's Fashion Week and has covered the 2009 Golden Globes for E! and the 2009 NBA All-Star Game for Gatorade. Sacramone is currently spending time in Los Angeles, with plans to go back to school in the fall.

USA Gymnastics recently caught up with Sacramone to ask about the Olympic Games, her life post-Beijing and her future plans.

What is your favorite memory from China?
I think when we first got there for team prelims, we were all so nervous but it was also just a great moment when we were walking out into the Olympic venue for the first time as a team. I think it was one of the highlights because we were all so emotional - nervous, happy, scared - but we went out there and did the best we could.

The Olympic Games didn't go quite as planned for you. Looking back now that eight months have passed, what do you think of your experience?
It took me time to realize that I literally did the best I could at that moment in time. It may not have been my best competition ever but I couldn't have done any more than I did, I couldn't have trained any more than I did. I've come to terms with the fact that I did my best and I can't change it now, that's what happened. It was just a huge honor to be there, get a silver medal, be part of a great team and be able to say that I was an Olympian.

How has life changed since the Olympic Games?
It's a little weird getting recognized places where you go for everyday things, like Target or the supermarket. People are like, "Are you Alicia Sacramone?" and I'm like, "Umm, yeah." It's weird, but it's definitely just an adjustment. I retired, so I'm just living the retired life, working and going back to school in the fall.

Is it strange not going into the gym?
It was weird the first couple of days, but now I love it.

How do you feel about going back to school?
I have mixed emotions. I'm obviously very excited about going back to be with all of my classmates, but I'm nervous to go back to school because I haven't done schoolwork in a good year.

What has been your favorite thing you have done since the Olympic Games?
I have a couple. Going to the White House was really cool, and going to Fashion Week was phenomenal. I've been able to do some charity events and go to children's hospitals, and I think that was really fun, too.

You did some reporting work for E! at the Golden Globes and for Gatorade at the NBA All-Star Game. Do you think that's something you'll continue?
I definitely would love to do more of that. I think it was really fun and it really came naturally for me. I think it would be really cool if I could take the entertainment route or do some hosting gigs.

You're now living in Los Angeles. What are you doing out there?
I'm working for the company, Tankfarm, and it's a company that has men's designer T-shirts, jackets and button-ups. They're launching a new line called Greek Mile. It's customized fashionable T-shirts for sororities and fraternities, athletic teams and clubs. Anything that you'd want to design your own logo for, we do. It's more fashionable shirts and better quality for the same price. I'm designing some things and sketching, and we're talking about re-launching a women's line for TankFarm. Right now we're just pitching it around to some schools and clubs to see if they have a desire to get any of the stuff. We're trying to sell, doing some designing and sketching, and we'll see where it goes from there.

I know you took your first vacation in a long time to Florida. How was it?
It was great. It was nice to go to a place and not have to go to the gym, only to the hotel. We went to the beach and relaxed, went out to dinner. It was a good time, and I got a tan. We went to Orlando for a couple of days and then went to Sanibel Island.

What do you like most about gymnastics?
I love the whole performing aspect of gymnastics, going out in front of a crowd. There's the pressure and intensity, but at the same time, there's also the adrenaline. Performing and having those feelings was the best part of it for me.

What is your favorite gymnastics memory?
I think when I was a kid, my fondest memory was traveling all over going to these different meets and accomplishing little goals that I would set for myself. As for now, what I remember most is the friendships that I made with my teammates. The World Championships in 2007 was one of the highlights of my gymnastics career. To be able to go through all of that stuff with them was great.

Click here for a photo gallery from Sacramone's 2008 competitions and her activities since the Olympic Games