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Andrea Luangrath, Assistant Professor of Marketing, University of Iowa

For many Olympic medalists, silver stings more than bronze

silver McKayla Maroney Olympics Michael Phelps Alexandra Trusova Olympics Gold United States Beijing Olympics London Olympics
U.S. swimmer Michael Phelps receives his silver medal for the men's 200 butterfly at the 2012 London Olympics. Al Bello/Getty Images

At the 2022 Beijing Olympics, a distraught Alexandra Trusova won silver and promptly declared, “I will never skate again.” Swimmer Michael Phelps displayed a mix of frustration and disappointment at the 2012 London Olympics when he added a silver to his trove of gold medals. At those same games, gymnast McKayla Maroney’s grim expression on the medal stand went viral.

These moments, caught by the camera’s unblinking eye, reveal a surprising pattern: Silver medalists often appear less happy than those winning bronze.

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