Are bronze medalists happier than silver medal winners? Studies say yes

Not all athletes are given the opportunity to compete on probably the most prestigious stage in the world—the Olympics. For many, it serves as a culmination of long hours of training and huge amounts of dedication.

And to win a medal from the quadrennial conclave sure brings out a lot of emotions from athletes.

However, several studies show that, contrary to what people might expect, bronze medalists seem to be a lot happier than those who cop the silver. 

In a blog by Jason Goldman published in Scientific American in August 2012, he cited a study done by psychologists Victoria Medvec and Thomas Gilovich of Cornell University and Scott Madey of the University of Toledo.

The research said that the phenomenon can be explained by comparing actual achievements to "what might have been," something called "counterfactual thinking."

"The most obvious counterfactual thought for the silver medalist might be to focus on almost winning gold. She would focus on the difference between coming in first place, and any other outcome. The bronze medalist, however, might focus their counterfactual thoughts downward towards fourth place," Goldman wrote.

"The categorical difference, between being a medalist and not winning a medal, does not exist for the comparison between first and second place."

A 2016 Washington Post article by Ana Swanson, meanwhile, cited a study by David Matsumoto, a psychologist at San Francisco State University and former Olympic judo coach.

Matsumoto looked at the emotional expressions of winning and losing athletes and found that people show varying emotions depending on their culture.

In one of Matsumoto's studies, he examined the facial expressions of 84 judo athletes during the 2004 Athens Games.

"Examining the photos, the researchers found evidence that facial expressions are both universal and culturally specific. In the moments after the athlete won or lost, they made facial expressions of joy, disappointment, surprise and other emotions that were remarkably consistent across countries and cultures," Swanson wrote.

"But as the seconds ticked by and the athletes realized they were on the world stage with many cameras pointed at them, their expressions changed in ways that did vary by culture."

Goldman, meanwhile, wrote that bronze medalists are a lot happier because they expected less while silver medalists expected more, like winning the gold.

"It is because of this incongruous comparison that the bronze medalist, who is objectively worse off, would be more pleased with herself, and happier with her achievement, than the silver medalist," Goldman wrote. "There may, indeed, be times when less really is more."

—Bea Micaller/MGP, GMA News