PHOENIX — Athletes representing Team USA are aiming for the Gold in the 2024 Paris Olympics. Still, silver and bronze medals are incredible honors among the best in their disciplines across the world.
However, researchers believe their analysis shows bronze medalists appear generally happier than silver medalists on the Olympic podium.
"In my own personal experience I would say yes, that's accurate," Gary Hall, Jr., a 10-time Olympic medalist from the Valley, said.
Researchers with the University of Iowa and the University of Minnesota analyzed 413 athletes on the podium at track and field events across five Summer Games. Using an AI emotion reading system, they evaluated athletes' facial expressions.
But why do bronze medalists appear happier? The researchers say it's two things: Performance expectations and comparison.
"The results are consistent with the theory that silver medalists formed an upward comparison to gold medalists with thoughts of 'I almost won gold' while bronze medalists formed a downward comparison to a fourth-place finisher with thoughts of 'at least I won a medal.'," The researchers wrote in the study published in the Journal of Experimental Psychology.
Hall competed at three Olympic games, earning 5 gold medals, 3 silver medals and 2 bronze medals.
"It's a dream come true to stand on top of the Olympic podium, have the flag raised and the National Anthem play. That's what it's all about," Hall said of his gold medals.
Hall recalls how when he earned his bronze medal at the Sydney Games he was just glad to have medaled at all. However, his silver medal in the Atlanta Games is different.
"Let me put it this way: I can tell you how many one-hundredths of a second I got a silver medal by. I have no idea how much I got the bronze medal by," Hall said. "Those seven one-hundredths of a second that separated the silver from the gold, it needles at you."
While Hall says athletes' competitive nature does add pressure on themselves to perform, the public also has high expectations.
"It wasn't just my perception - you're expected to be the best if you're representing the United States," Hall said. "And silver is good, but it's not the best. And so people, yeah - the reactions of others too - you feel it."
Still, Hall applauds the athletes who choose to compete and aim to land a spot on the podium.
"You risk public humiliation for a shot at glory," Hall said. "I really love seeing how brave these athletes are to face that challenge and take on that incredible task."