MANY a competitor has returned home from an Olympic Games without any reward other than to have shared in the unique experience itself.

So to have a shiny medal of any colour to polish for the rest of your living days is a wonderful thing, recognising the dedication, commitment, motivation, pride and skill of the recipient.

For those that went to Beijing with no intention other than to finish on top of the world, as I believe was the case with Warrington’s Richard Egington in the men’s eight rowing, it can initially be a massive disappointment to have silver hanging around your neck rather than gold.

And that must particularly be the case when the difference between gold and silver after four years of a tortuous training regime is a matter of just seconds, as it was for the first Warrington-born Olympian and his crewmates.

Highlighting the point so visually, while supporters were waving their Union Jack flags with delight at the men’s eight silver salvo at the Shunyi Olympic Rowing Park, the mentally tough and powerful lads in the Team GB boat were just slumped in their seats looking emotional and exhausted after giving their all for themselves, their coaches, their family, their friends and their country.

They must have been questioning their every stroke and wondering where it had all gone wrong.

Not that it had, of course, they were just a second or so slower than the favourites Canada.

It was a similar story for the silver-winning British women’s coxless four, who could hardly speak and fought back the tears as they were ‘consoled’ by Olympic legend Sir Steve Redgrave live on international television.

As the weeks pass, I’m sure Egington and the others will all grow fonder and fonder of that symbol of their mammoth achievements and treasure it like a baby.

The armchair viewer may find it difficult to comprehend such disappointment. After all, a silver medal is better than a bronze variety that is better than no medal at all.

The point is, though, those scenes among the rowers mentioned did not represent recipients feeling ungrateful with a silver medal.

No, not at all. The welling up of the eyes and perhaps feelings that they had let people down were all about Team GB competitors having a winning attitude.

And that is exactly the stance that was needed in Beijing to make British Olympians a force to be feared again.

Although not particularly in sports like rowing and cycling - where Britain have excelled in modern times - there have been far too many years of the Brits turning up at Olympiads simply to make up the numbers and enjoy the atmosphere.

Not any more. A winning attitude is infectious in a camp and at last as a sporting nation we are competing for honours with the big guns again (England footballers take note!).

And the timing could not be better with London 2012 just around the corner.

It is important to the country’s infrastructure as well as the nation’s pride that 2012 is a success.

Interest, support and excitement for the London event should now surely grow and grow.