"Beyond" Excited

National Public Radio was reporting on the Olympics.  One of the American swimmers had won a gold medal.  The reporter said the swimmer was “beyond” excited.  I wondered if that is possible.  

I imagine if a person is chagrined, they could be “beyond” chagrined. They could be irked.  They could be bothered.  They could be annoyed. 

If a person is agitated, it may be possible to be “beyond” agitated. They could be disturbed. They could be tense.  They could be troubled. They could be distraught. They could be frantic.  

If a person is forlorn, they could be “beyond” forlorn. They could be dejected, despondent, hopeless or even desperate.  

But how in the world can a person be “beyond” excited?  Would thrilled be considered “beyond” excited?  It seems to me that exited would trump thrilled any day.  After some thought, I have concluded that being excited is a peak emotion and any further modifications are mere hyperbole.  

I wonder what Strunk and White would have to say about this.