We’re calling it: Corn Flakes spots are only the start for Gabby Douglas, Aly Reisman and the rest of the “Fierce Five.”

Now that the torch has been extinguished, the medals have been awarded and fans have received serenades from John Lennon, Freddie Mercury and—for some reason—George Michael, one big question remains: Which athletes really cleaned up at the 2012 Games? Beyond the obvious winners (Gabby Douglas, Ryan Lochte and all-time champ Michael Phelps), who will come out on top of the Olympics endorsements game?

First place is a lock: This week’s all-out media blitz by the gymnastics team will include appearances on The Tonight Show, The TODAY Show, Good Morning America, The Colbert Report…you get the idea. The always-prescient New York Post predicts “hundreds” of endorsement offers for Douglas alone.

But how fares the rest of the US squad? Read more

Take a moment this morning to imagine that you’re Ryan Lochte: You’ve just won two gold medals, two silvers and a bronze. You’ve appeared on the covers of Vogue, Time, and Men’s Journal. Most importantly, you’ve managed to defeat your arch nemesis and teammate Michael Phelps to reign atop the ranks of chlorine-tinged supermen for one brief, shining moment.

Now that you’ve made your mark on the world of sport, earned your 15 minutes as an international “brand” and made your requisite appearance in the British tabloids, the time has come for you to answer the question that vexes a nation:

“The Bachelor” or “Dancing with the Stars?”

How about both? The world of reality TV is calling, and this morning good sir Lochte told Matt Lauer that he is “looking towards” it. After scoring endorsement deals with Gillette, Speedo, Gatorade and Ralph Lauren, the 6’2″ fish has let the world know that he’s ready to leave the water — or at least to trade the Olympic pool for the Pacific Ocean.

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From Gabby Douglas to #NBCFAIL, the 2012 London Olympics has been a raucous spectacle of PR intrigue, triumph and disasters. For PR geeks, these games have been an absolute blast. And when it’s all over, when it’s all said and done, we’ll all be talking about that one moment of the Olympics that will remain forever etched in our memories: the women’s water polo wardrobe malfunction.

Move over Janet Jackson. Say hello to the lustful carnival of floating skin that is women’s water polo. That’s right, last Wednesday during a qualifying match between the USA and Spain, American player Kami Craig briefly exposed a Spanish player’s breast during an underwater skirmish. NBC aired the incident to the world, which hasn’t been the same since. Just imagine it. An entire breast. Under water.

The salacious chlorinated romp lasted for entire seconds, and will live forever on the Internet. In fact, today, this article headlined the New York Times website. There are plenty of companies and brands that will pay handsomely for that level of exposure PR. Now they all know what to do. Nudity never fails. Sex sells. Every PR expert knows this well, though not every PR campaign capitalizes on this knowledge.

One brand that nailed it is Ragú. Yes, sexy Ragú, that sultry red pasta sauce tantalizingly separated from the public by glass like a prostitute in Amsterdam. Even better: Its’ funny. Take a look:

First the obvious: Brilliant young gymnast Gabby Douglas, Olympic gold medalist and winner of a “potential endorsement goldmine,” slipped a bit in last night’s balance beam competition, falling to seventh in the rankings as the 2012 gymnastics events drew to a close.

But does the new individual world champ need a strategic PR adjustment? Sally Jenkins of The Washington Post seems to think so.  Her basic message to Douglas: ignore the noise. In the wake of overwhelming media scrutiny of her every move, her family history, and even her hairstyle, the newly crowned queen of the mat supposedly complained of anxiety and had trouble sleeping; after her less-celebrated performance yesterday, she admitted that she was “kinda tired” and all but confirmed that the endless coverage had affected her in a negative way.

While Jenkins certainly has a point about the very aggressive questioning Douglas received from every corner of the press, we have to wonder: Did Gabby really need a handler to “shut her down and [take] away her electronics”? Would a strict media-free regimen work for a star whose genuine naivety is the key to her charm? Should she be closely advised to avoid discussing sensitive subjects?

Most importantly: Why can’t everyone just let her be herself, celebrate her achievements and stop blatantly attempting to amplify the drama?

Oh wait: We just answered our own question, didn’t we?