Possible Clues:

• Beans finished in seconds?
• Sounds like Matt's at a wake for life's habitual losers who nearly struck gold
• Bean soup -- nothing less for seconds?
• As good as gold? Us, almost
• People who place
• Manage stewed prunes for some on the podium
• Silver medallists, athletes on the climb?
• Athletes winning in second team?
• People well-placed in the race for gold?
• Second-placed competitors