Defending Olympic diving champion Matthew Mitcham shed a tear when he narrowly missed out on a spot in the 10-metre platform final, placing thirteenth in the event.
Mitcham won gold in the event in Beijing, and needed to be in the top twelve in the semis to dive for the gold medal.
Mitcham teared up when the scores became official, prompting celebrity writer Benjamin Law to tweet: "Nation-wide group hug for @matthew_mitcham. Still a goddamned hero."
Law's message was retweeted over 200 times by Sunday morning.
Mitcham has been a prolific tweeter throughout the Games and posted this after his final dive: "Ah nuts, missed the finals by #theskinofabeespenis. But I could not have done more. And I'll always be a Lympic (sic) Champion =) thx 4 ur support!"
Australian diving silver medallist Brittany Broben tweeted: "@matthew_mitcham you are my hero! Once a champion FOREVER a champion!!!! Your (sic) amazing x"
Musician Brendan Maclean tweeted: "@matthew_mitcham TOP TIP: Buy a kiddie pool, fill it with champagne, splash merrily, feel better. We're so proud of you!"
Mitcham returned to the pool for the final to watch American David Boudia win gold in an upset over China's world champion, Qiu Bo, who was the favourite to take out the event.
Mitcham tweeted: @davidboudia DAVID YOU BLOODY MASSIVE LEGEND!!! MY HERO!!! Xx"
Britain's teenage star Tom Daley won bronze, prompting the rest of the British diving team to jump fully clothed into the pool to celebrate.
Daley, sporting a cool 1.3 million followers, tweeted a picture of himself with a wide grin and his medal draped around his neck with the message: "Me and my coach after winning bronze at the Olympics!!! Can't believe it! So happy!"
American competitor Nick McCrory came ninth in the event and tweeted congratulations to Daley: "So happy for @TomDaley1994! You earned it man."
Louis Tomlinson, a member of the British boyband One Direction, watched the final from the stands with his girlfriend Eleanor Calder and trended worldwide after pictures of them kissing in celebration went viral.
Tomlinson tweeted: "Come on Tom!!" to his five million followers.
David Beckham was also spotted in the stands, cheering for Daley with his sons.
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