Olympic Spin Off Poll - Which is worse?

[soccerdad72]

After watching the men’s big air and… (spoiler below in case you haven’t watched it yet)

Spoiler: Big Air Result

The US snowboarder, Ollie Martin, got bumped from third to fourth on one of the last boarder

Which would be worse? Just missing a gold medal and getting silver or just missing any medal and finishing fourth?

 

[citruscurtis]

Because no one is going to remember and commercial tv loves the underdog..and hey .... that believe commercial they have been showing....who has the better believe possibility of being a inspirational speaker.... I didn't get a trophy... but I sure remember the competition yelling my name...and as for the trophies I gathered.... there dust

 

[RedAngie]

I’d say finishing out of the medals in 4th place is worse.

I think in the last Winter Olympics the US won the 4th place non-medal race.

 

[hardcorestitch]

Any medal >>>>>>> no medal at all

 

[Toolulu22]

Second. Being in the top ten in any Olympic Games is amazing. Heck, just being an Olympian is special. If you medal, it’s gold you want.

 

[citruscurtis]

Lands so hard that he bounces...
That will be 17 year old Ollie Martin poster in his room.... imagine what happens in 4 years in his life

 

[LuvOrlando]

Being last, imagine all that work and on the world stage only to be last. I feel for those people frozen forever in last place - yikes.

 

[Cannot_Wait_4Disney]

Being 4th would be worse than getting Silver. But failing to make the finals would be worse than 4th. But even last place is better than not making it.

 

[soccerdad72]

Being last, imagine all that work and on the world stage only to be last. I feel for those people frozen forever in last place - yikes.

I suppose that would depend on whether or not they were expecting to contend. I mean, if you’re an athlete from some tiny country and it’s your one chance to compete in the Olympics, just being there would be special, even in last place.

 

[_19disnA]

I think it is all relative. Some athletes consider simply qualifying for the Olympics on behalf of their country as their dream and are realistic that they have little chance of actually winning a medal. Even if you qualify for the Olympics, many sports have preliminary events where you need to do well before getting to the medal round. That isn't always obvious when you watch the competition on TV. However, if you go into the Olympics being considered one of the top athletes in the world regardless of your sport, then clearly not winning any medal would be a big letdown.

 

[lanejudy]

There’s some 2900 athletes and only 348 medals. Yes some are team sports so multiple athletes get a medal, but still the vast majority will go home with the memories of the experience and maybe some souvenirs.

As to the poll question which asked about 2nd vs 4th — I’d think 4th is the heartbreaker. There’s really relatively few who may have any real expectation of gold.

 

[HopperFan]

I suppose that would depend on whether or not they were expecting to contend. I mean, if you’re an athlete from some tiny country and it’s your one chance to compete in the Olympics, just being there would be special, even in last place.

I think it is all relative. Some athletes consider simply qualifying for the Olympics on behalf of their country as their dream and are realistic that they have little chance of actually winning a medal. Even if you qualify for the Olympics, many sports have preliminary events where you need to do well before getting to the medal round. That isn't always obvious when you watch the competition on TV. However, if you go into the Olympics being considered one of the top athletes in the world regardless of your sport, then clearly not winning any medal would be a big letdown.

THIS ^ It really depends on where you fit in to the whole competition going in. Just thrilled to be there, in potential for a medal, expected to win a medal, expected to win gold, what condition you are in at competition (Vonn's "injury") ..... I would think if you were expected to medal and came in 4th that would be very hard AND if you weren't expected by came in 4th you might think "if only". Athletes are the hardest on themselves.