^{McKayla Maroney getting her Silver Medal for the Vault at the 2012 Olympic Games}

The Joy of Bronze, The Agony of Silver

Imagine two Olympic athletes standing on the podium on either side of the gold medal winner. On one side, there’s Sarah, beaming with pride, clutching her bronze medal. She’s overcome with joy, thrilled that her hard work has earned her a place among the elite few. On the other side stands Jennifer, a silver medal draped around her neck. But unlike Sarah, Jennifer’s smile is faint, forced even. Instead of joy, her mind is filled with what-ifs and missed opportunities—she was so close to winning gold.

Why is Sarah, who came in third, over the moon, while Jennifer, who came in second, struggles to feel happy? At first glance, it might seem obvious that the higher you place in a competition, the happier you should be. After all, second place is objectively better than third, right? But when it comes to human emotions, things are rarely that simple. Research conducted by Medvec, Madey, and Gilovich has uncovered that contrary to what we might expect, bronze medalists are often happier than their silver counterparts. The reason lies in something called counterfactual thinking.

Counterfactual Thinking: The “What If” Trap

Counterfactual thinking is when we imagine alternative outcomes to events that have already occurred—essentially, the “what ifs.” For silver medalists, the most salient counterfactual thought is often how close they came to winning gold. They might think, “If only I had pushed just a little harder,” or “What if I hadn’t made that mistake?” This upward comparison, where they focus on the better outcome they almost achieved, can lead to feelings of regret and dissatisfaction.

On the other hand, bronze medalists are more likely to compare their situation to the possibility of not winning a medal at all. Their thoughts might be along the lines of, “At least I made it to the podium,” or “I’m so glad I didn’t finish fourth.” This downward comparison helps them to feel satisfied with what they did achieve rather than dwelling on what they didn’t.

Research Findings: Evidence from the Olympics

Medvec, Madey, and Gilovich’s research backs up these observations with solid evidence. They analyzed the reactions of Olympic athletes at the 1992 Summer Olympics and found that bronze medalists visibly expressed more happiness than silver medalists. This was true both immediately after their events, when they were interviewed afterward, and when they stood on the podium to receive their medals.

Further supporting these findings, a study by Matsumoto and Willingham in 2006 examined the facial expressions of judo medalists at the 2004 Athens Olympic Games. The study found that gold and bronze medalists were much more likely to display genuine Duchenne smiles—smiles that involve both the mouth and the eyes, indicating true enjoyment—immediately after their matches and during the medal ceremonies. In contrast, silver medalists rarely displayed such smiles; instead, their expressions often reflected sadness, contempt, or even no emotion at all.

Why This Matters

Understanding why bronze medalists are often happier than silver medalists isn’t just interesting trivia; it has broader implications for how we approach our own goals and achievements. The silver medalist’s plight shows us how focusing too much on what we didn’t get can rob us of the joy of what we did achieve. It’s a reminder that satisfaction often comes not from the objective outcome but from how we interpret and compare that outcome to our expectations and possible alternatives.

So, next time you find yourself feeling down about not achieving the top spot, remember the bronze medalists. Their happiness isn’t about settling for less but about appreciating what they’ve earned. By shifting our focus from what could have been to what actually is, we can find greater satisfaction in our achievements—no matter where we stand on the podium.