In the story, the character's behavior reflects a tendency to change coaches frequently and a preference for finishing in third place rather than second. This shows she finds contentment in simply placing rather than striving for the very top, which may be driven by her fear of disappointment or perfectionism.
She is comfortable with third place because it brings her a sense of achievement and happiness, but second feels too close to first, possibly indicating her reluctance to risk failure or her difficulty in accepting near success. Her attitude highlights her complex relationship with success and self-acceptance.