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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2009
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Bronze Medalists Happier Than Silver Winners

2nd place a letdown, 3rd is a thrill

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(Newser) – Newly minted gold medalists are ecstatic, second-place finishers slightly less so, and bronze winners the least happy—or so conventional wisdom would have it. But psychologists find that bronze medalists are usually happier than those who finish with silver, the Washington Post reports. Why does this Olympic paradox play out so regularly?

Researchers studying the post-competition reactions of elite athletes say that second-place finishers tend to obsess about the reasons they came up short, while those in third-place are happy to have made it to the top three. The studies suggest happiness is about expectations—and whether competitors compare themselves to those who fare better or worse.

Gold medal winner Elena Dementieva of Russia is flanked by silver medalist Dinara Safina , left, and bronze medalist Vera Zvonareva at the Beijing 2008 Olympics.
Gold medal winner Elena Dementieva of Russia is flanked by silver medalist Dinara Safina , left, and bronze medalist Vera Zvonareva at the Beijing 2008 Olympics.   (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)
Ukraine's gold medalist Nataliia Dobrynska is flanked by Ukraine's silver winner Lyudmila Blonska, left, and United States' Hyleas Fountain during the medal ceremony for the women's heptathlon.
Ukraine's gold medalist Nataliia Dobrynska is flanked by Ukraine's silver winner Lyudmila Blonska, left, and United States' Hyleas Fountain during the medal ceremony for the women's heptathlon.   (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)
Britain's Rebecca Romero, center, winner of the Track Cycling Women's Individual Pursuit event, flanked by silver medallist Wendy Houvenaghel, of Britain, and Ukraine's Lesya Kalitovska, bronze.
Britain's Rebecca Romero, center, winner of the Track Cycling Women's Individual Pursuit event, flanked by silver medallist Wendy Houvenaghel, of Britain, and Ukraine's Lesya Kalitovska, bronze.   (AP Photo/Ricardo Mazalan)
Silver medal winner Alena Kartashova of Russia, gold winner Kaori Icho of Japan, bronze winners Yelena Shalygina of Kazakhstan and Randi Miller of U.S.
Silver medal winner Alena Kartashova of Russia, gold winner Kaori Icho of Japan, bronze winners Yelena Shalygina of Kazakhstan and Randi Miller of U.S.   (AP Photo/Saurabh Das )
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