銀メダルの位置付けは微妙に感じる。
レース種目や採点種目ならまだしも、対戦種目の場合は決勝戦で敗戦した結果だからだ。だから銀メダリストは「第2位」という好成績にもかかわらず、浮かない表情をしていることが多々ある。むしろ、3位決定戦で勝利した銅メダリストの方が晴れ晴れして喜んでいることが多い。
また、レース種目や採点種目でも、「絶対に金メダルを獲る、獲ることが出来る」と臨んだアスリートには、
銀メダルに終わると、まるで予選敗退のような落胆ぶりになることもある。
「金でなければ、銀だろうが一回戦負けだろうが同じ」という意識だろう。
それでも、この卓球団体のように、決勝で完膚なきまでに負けても満足の笑顔のアスリートもいる。
きっと自分たちの持つ実力を１００％発揮したことでの納得だろう。
唯、準決勝で勝利してメダル確定した直後に流す涙は、決勝戦終了後まで取っておいてほしい。
まだ戦いは終わっていないのだから。この時点で緊張が解けたようだ。もう決勝戦の敗戦が予想できてしまったから。
次のオリンピックでは頂上まで登る決意でがんばってほしい。
In the final match of table tennis women's team London Olympic Games 2012 , Team Japan was
defeated by Team China .At result , Japan took the 2nd prize "the silver medal"!
Sinnificance of the silver medal seems subtle.
Setting aside events of race and events of scoring points , it is the result of a defeat at the final in case of events of competition. So some silver medalists seem with a look not at all pleased , although they took a good result "the 2nd prize". Rather than more bronze medalists who won at the 3rd place play-off are pleased with a bright look.
Even in events of race or events of scoring points , some athletes who have a strong mind
"I will get a gold medal necessarily , I can !" are discouraged like as being defeated at the first round
if they competed with self-confidence and got the silver medal only at result.
Maybe they are confident that the silver medal and a defeat at the first game are same except a gold medal.
On the other hand , some athletes like as this Team Japan are pleased even if they suffered a complete defeat at the final. Because these silver medalists are satisfied to give full play with 100% of their capability, maybe.
However , I hope that they would have saved tears which were shed at winning of the semi-final(it means they can get the silver medal at worst.). Because they still had the final, they had to compete.
Then they seemed to relieve their tension and I forecasted a defeat of Team Japan at the final.
In the next Olympic Games , I expect them to do their best and rise to the top!