Between Triumph and Defeat
The euphoria following a success story, the echo of the national anthem, the flag waving proudly… Yet, this year a striking commonality emerged in the narratives of our national teams: finishing second. Our women’s volleyball national team became the world runner-up, our men’s basketball national team reached the European final and also finished second, while in boxing, Buse Naz Çakıroğlu and Büşra Işıldar shared the same fate.
From the outside, these were great achievements, but the emotions experienced by athletes and society were far more complex. Being second often creates a psychological paradox—a state of mind trapped between triumph and defeat.
The Emotional Conflict of Being Second
Research in sport psychology shows that the difference between first and second place is not only determined by the color of the medal but also by the quality of the athlete’s emotional experience.
The classic study by social psychologists Medvec, Madey, and Gilovich (1995) demonstrated that silver medalists often feel greater disappointment and inadequacy compared to bronze medalists. The runner-up tends to focus on the scenario of “missing the gold,” whereas the bronze medalist feels relative satisfaction for “avoiding finishing without a medal” (Medvec et al., 1995).
Recent developments in Turkish sports have made this psychological reality highly visible. The women’s volleyball national team’s second place in the World Championship, or the men’s basketball national team narrowly missing the gold after reaching the European final, represented not only athletic accomplishments but also shared emotional experiences at a societal level.
For athletes, being second can be perceived as both a reflection of physical effort, discipline, and dedication, and simultaneously as an achievement overshadowed by the sense of an “unattained summit.”
The long-term effects of this state are also noteworthy. The psychological burden of finishing second may motivate an athlete to work harder, but it can also increase the risk of burnout syndrome. What proves critical is how the athlete interprets this experience. Professional psychological support can help transform the meaning of “defeat” into one of “learning.”
Performance Anxiety and Social Expectations
One of the primary factors that intensifies the burden of finishing second is societal expectations. An athlete competing under the national jersey is not only fighting for themselves but also for millions of others. This reality amplifies performance anxiety (Bozkurt, 2024).
The psychological pressure of a final match far exceeds that of a regular competition. The belief that “we must win the gold” may weaken an athlete’s concentration and increase the likelihood of mistakes. The fact that our national athletes occasionally commit errors they would not normally make in earlier rounds illustrates this heightened pressure.
The Reflection of Social Pressure on Athletes
From a sport psychology perspective, finishing second is not only an individual experience but also a collective one.
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Fans’ expectations are almost always framed around “winning the gold.”
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Media headlines frequently adopt a rhetoric of “we lost.”
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Social media imposes heavy criticism and pressure on athletes.
This environment makes it difficult for athletes to recognize their own accomplishments. Although second place is objectively a remarkable achievement, social pressure can lead it to be perceived as a “failure.” Such perceptions may cause athletes to experience guilt, worthlessness, or burnout.
Psychological Resilience and the Learning Process
On the other hand, finishing second is not solely about disappointment; it also represents a significant opportunity for growth. One of the fundamental concepts in sport psychology—psychological resilience—becomes crucial at this stage (Salman & Menteş, 2023).
Some athletes perceive finishing second not as a loss but as an integral part of progress. This perspective nurtures the motivation to “return stronger in the next tournament.” Thus, second place can evolve into a source of learning and development at both the individual and collective levels.
Developing psychological resilience allows athletes to transform external failure into internal strength—a crucial skill in both sports and life.
Conclusion: Golden Lessons from Silver
Being second can be psychologically both destructive and constructive. It is destructive because it generates feelings of disappointment, anxiety, and worthlessness. It is constructive because it offers opportunities for resilience, determination, and growth.
The achievements of our national athletes reveal that the struggle extends beyond the field into the realm of the mind. Perhaps the gold medals were not won, but these runner-up finishes reminded us of an important truth: victory is not confined to the top of the podium; it is also hidden in dreams, effort, and perseverance.
A Brief Note: We are proud of you.
References
Bozkurt, O. (n.d.). Tek kişilik mücadelede performans kaygısı ve yönetim stratejileri. In Bireysel sporlar ve performans (p. 91).
busenazcakirogluu. (2024, August 1). [Photo]. Instagram. https://www.instagram.com/p/C-IoTdnNACc/
Medvec, V. H., Madey, S. F., & Gilovich, T. (1995). When less is more: Counterfactual thinking and satisfaction among Olympic medalists. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 69(4), 603–610. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.69.4.603
Öztürk, K. (2023, September 4). Filenin Sultanları destan yazdı… Dünya 1 numarasıyız [Photo]. HaberAlp. https://www.haberalp.com/filenin-sultanlari-destan-yazdidunya-1-numarasiyiz
Salman, K., & Menteş, G. (2023). Sporda psikolojik dinamikler. In Spor ve egzersiz psikolojisinde güncel yaklaşımlar (p. 59).
Tiryaki, E. (2025, September 17). Milli boksör Büşra Işıldar Dünya Şampiyonası’nda finale yükseldi [Photo]. Anadolu Ajansı. https://www.aa.com.tr/tr/dunyadan-spor/milli-boksor-busra-isildar-dunya-sampiyonasinda-finale-yukseldi/3686692
Türkiye Basketbol Federasyonu [@TBF]. (2025, September 12). [Photo]. X. https://x.com/TBF/status/1966396478798069983