When you join a contest and failed, how do you react?

I have many contest that I've joined, and fortunately I won, in my school days I used to join gymnastic competition, and cheering scuad and I won a medal from it. Last two years ago I joined three ballroom dance competition and the two of them is brodcast in a noontime show in the tv. But unfortunateley I lost and the one held only a simple dance that one I won also. For me If I lost I's okay with me I'm a good sport that's life all of us have different skills and maybe there are more good than me.

I failed a lot of times in many contests but as long as I get something out of it I don't really feel bad. During my grade school days I have joined dozens of painting contest, I never won even once, even a special prize, but I find contentment and fulfillment when people express appreciation with my drawings. It's like winning already. When I became representative to a Mechanical Engineers quiz contest, chosen among many engineering students, I already felt a winner long before the quiz started. We ended up 5th place and it doesn't matter. I ended up 35th place in a 5 kilometer fun run out of 120 places. No problem, at least I developed the habit of running to keep fit and enjoyed every meter of struggle of competition, I had in it.

I always say it's the taking part that matters not the winning. I am not competitive anyhow and as long as I've given it my very best then I can't expect more. I enjoy trying and to beat my personal best score and to improve next time. It's no big deal for me.

everybody has their turn for victory and defeat. whatever the outcome may be, we just have to accept it.

Well, I don't expect much if I join a contest. I know the possibility for me to win it is very low, but at least I join it so that I still have a chance. If it's failed, never mind. If I ever win it, that will be a great surprise. I haven't won any contests in my life yet:)

When I first joined a pageant I lost. I felt devastated because I know I'm deserving to win. But you know the normal thing in a contest is being cooked merely because I'm not a native of that place. It hurts deep inside but as a sport I accepted that I lost. But because of that I got the courage to prove to them that I deserved something. So when our town organized a pageant as well. I joined again though I felt nervous. Questions like what if I'd lost again? this ring at the back of my mind. But I was motivated from my experience in the first pageant. What I did was put all my best on it to prove that I can. Fortunately, I won the title. Being a winner always makes you feel happy and contented. In losing there are two things either you'll do your best next time or never join again.

All the participants come into a contest or a tournament with a win in mind, but the problem is there can be only one winner and the rest have always a next time. But i appreciate your concern for others. It says a lot about your kind heartedness and your caring for others. Hats off to you!!! :))

well... the best consolation price after failing in winning a contest is to get some appreciation from the winners... but not any sort of appreciation, just a sincere one;)... For me that worth a lot;)

It feels bad to lose but what's important there is that somehow you have tried your best and that you've enjoyed the game that you have just played. It's always like that. Sportsmanship is the best attitude you can ever show to your opponents. ;) Congratulations pal. Winners always do deserved to win don't they? .LOL! ;)

I think it is easier on older people to be good sports then for younger people. My childern are very conpetitive and like to win. They do get disappointed when they lose. I try to teach them that you can't win every time and that it is nice to see others win. I was very competitive as a youth and did things I was very good at and won a lot. I didn't like losing at all and wasn't a good sportsman. But now I accept that you can't always win and am happy for the winners.

You should be happy you won, but it is good that you are concerned about the other people's feelings. I saw this 9yo at mcdonalds yesterday,a nd his shirt said "winners make losers, losers make excuses". I know that is a little off topic, but it's sad that people ar eraising their kids like that! I mean...I know it's just a shirt, but people do really feel that way in competetive situations.