Why are we so happy when our sports favorite wins, especially against the odds?

Phys.org

February 16, 2026

It's time for the Winter Olympics, and people across the globe will sit in front of their TVs with the hope that their country brings home lots of medals. But why does this make us happy? Why do we get so excited when the person we support is doing well in sports? After all, we're not the ones who are actually winning anything.