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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Sport
Elle Hunt

The pain and pleasure of placing fourth at the Olympics: ‘I didn’t know whether to frame the certificate – or burn it’

Adam Burgess slalom canoeing
Team GB’s slalom canoeist Adam Burgess came fourth in the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, but reversed his fortunes with a silver medal in Paris 2024. Photograph: Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images

The Olympics are the pinnacle of athletic achievement, the culmination of years of training, discipline, determination and sacrifice, all for the shot at winning a medal. So what happens when you miss out on a podium spot by seconds, or a fraction of a second? We spoke to five athletes who placed fourth about how it affected them and what they did next.

Bruno Fratus, Brazilian swimmer, 35

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