Competitor

Debacle – a sudden disaster, defeat, or humiliating failure
Disaster
Catastrophe
Fiasco
Shambles – a failure caused by inadequate planning or organization
Tragedy
Devastation
Calamity – a disastrous situation or event
Misfortune
Precedent – an action or decision that can be used subsequently as an example for a similar decision or to justify a similar action.
Example
Model
Guide
Pattern
Standard
Instance – an occurrence of sth
Contender – a competitor, especially sb who has a good chance of winning
Candidate
Nominee
Competitor
Contestant
Challenger
Runner