Make every second count

History rarely celebrates the runner-up. But we should. It's where the tales of grit and comebacks lie

- Christalle Fernandes

What does the world at large remember from the 2024 Paris Olympics? Chances are, we only recall Yusuf Dikec, the silver-haired Turkish shooter who stood there nonchalantly (no gear, nothing), looking almost bored as he took aim against the world's best.

Dikec and his teammate won silver. But his hitman pose was so epic, no one even remembers who won. Let that be a reminder to anyone assessing their accomplishments in 2024, that coming in second isn't so bad after all.

Silver-medal syndrome is a real thing. A landmark study in 1995, the first of its kind, published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, analysed video footage of winners' reactions from the 1992 Barcelona Games. It found that silver medallists tend to feel more disappointed than bronze winners.