You Would Cry Too

I know that everyone in the world knows now that USA gymnast McKayla Maroney failed to get the gold medal on the vault despite being the best in the world. On her second vault Maroney landed on her butt. She lost the gold medal to Sandra Raluca Izbasa of Romania. But still ended up with silver. After which Maroney was noticeably not happy. When Izbasa went to hug her Maroney looked like it was causing her physical pain. At age 16 Maroney failed to in the eyes of many to lose with grace. In every photo of the event she either looks upsets or very confused.

I think we can all imagine the frustration. Knowing that you are the best at something but when the moment comes instead of rising you literally fall on your ass. Not only that but studies have shown that bronze medal winners are happier than silver medalist. There is something about coming so close to gold only to end up with silver that overshadows the accomplishment.

NPR reported what researchers discovered when comparing bronze and silver medalist, “The psychologists guessed it was because silver medal-winners compare themselves to the athletes who won gold and feel they came up short. By contrast, bronze medal-winners seem to unconsciously compare themselves to people who didn’t win a medal at all.” (http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetorch/2012/08/03/157835076/would-you-rather-win-silver-or-bronze-be-careful-what-you-wish-for)

So there you have it. Regardless of age you would probably cry too if you were Maroney. You can watch her vault below.

-M

Tags: 2012, bitch, bronze, final, gold, grace, gymnast, gymnastics, happier, happiest, immature, individual, London, Mckayla Maroney, olympics, Sandra Raluca Izbasa, Silver, sore loser, summer, unhappy, upset, vault