Triumph - not pride - is the main emotion expressed after success in non-interactive sports

Matsumoto and Hwang (2012) demonstrated that triumph can be distinguished from pride in Judo fighters, identifying three factors: expansion, aggression, and attention for triumph expressions, whereas pride is characterized by expansion and smiling (Hwang & Matsumoto, 2014b).Our study aimed to identify the dominant emotion (triumph or pride) in non-interactive sports, specifically elite high jumpers, using the Facial Action Coding System (FACS, Ekman, Friesen & Hager, 2002).We analyzed data from 66 elite high jumpers during their most prestigious competition, comparing successful bar clearances with failures and a baseline period. Triumph and pride were primarily differentiated by aggressive and expansive behaviors, respectively. Our findings show that triumph was the predominant emotion following successful bar clearance, with pride also more frequent than during the baseline period. However, pride/expansion levels did not differentiate between bar clearance and failure.Significantly more actions such as making a fist, shouting, lowering the eyebrows (Action Unit [AU] 4), and raising the upper lip (AU 10) were observed after successful clearances compared to failures. Regression analysis, using triumph as a criterion, significantly predicted competition rank, seasonal best, personal best, and absolute height. Pride frequency post-clearance was predicted by height, personal best, and rank, excluding seasonal best. Triumph showed higher predicted variance than pride.The results suggest triumph is more related to success than pride, even in non-interactive sports, particularly in difficult competitions. We discuss the relation of triumph and pride to power and achievement motivation, as well as the physiological and communicative functions of triumph signals.