THE countdown to the Olympics is well and truly on with the world’s best sports stars eyeing gold in Paris this summer.
The French capital hosts 19 days of top class action from the water, track, sand and more, with over 10,000 athletes set to take part.
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From a punting standpoint, there’s more than enough to get stuck into with a massive variety across the Games.
So we’ve enlisted the help of our betting experts Jamie Anderson and Craig Mahood, with the duo selecting their best bets from across the action in the hope of landing some gold of their own.
Jamie’s best bets
Shot Put
Oppose two-time Olympic gold medalist Ryan Crouser at your peril.
The defending champion, who won in Rio and Tokyo, is vying for a third Olympic gold medal in Paris – which has never been achieved in the sport’s history.
Ok, he suffered defeat to Leonardo Fabbri in Saturday’s London Diamond League meeting.
But the 31-year-old comfortably beat the Italian when clinching the world indoor title in Glasgow back in March, and outdid Joe Kovacs at the US trials despite working his way back from an elbow injury.
Crouser holds the top two shot put records in the world 23.56m, while his closest rivals Fabbri and Kovacs have PB’s of 22.95m and 23.23m respectively with the latter recorded in September 2022.
- Ryan Crouser to win gold in the Shot Put at 8/13 with William Hill – CLAIM HERE
Long Jump
If she’s on song, Germany’s Malaika Mihambo should win in Paris.
The world number one, Olympic champion and two-time World champion secured her third European title during the Championships in Rome back in June with a world lead of 7.22m.
She had to withdraw from German athletics championships having suffered a coronavirus infection, but proved she was fit and healthy when winning at the recent London Diamond League meeting.
Her biggest rival will be America’s Tara Davis-Woodhall, whose season and personal best is 7.18m recorded at the USATF indoor championships in February.
- Malaika Mihambo to win gold in the Women’s Long Jump at 4/6 with William Hill – CLAIM HERE
Men’s 400m
Europe’s best to Olympic great?
Matthew Hudson-Smith will enter the men’s 400 metres in Paris as the outright favourite for gold ahead of his closest rivals Quincy Hall and Steven Gardiner.
And why not? The Brit set a new European 400m record of 44.07 in Oslo back in May.
He then proceeded to smash that record at the London Diamond League last week – clocking a time of 43.74 seconds to set the fastest time in the world this year.
He beat Michael Norman (6/1), Kirani James (12/1) and Jereem Richards (20/1) that afternoon and looks to have timed his campaign to perfection.
- Matthew Hudson-Smith to win gold in the Men’s 400m at 11/8 with William Hill – CLAIM HERE
Women’s 400m
Another who’s timed things to perfection?
Nickisha Pryce delivered a blockbuster performance at the London Diamond League when recording a 48.57 seconds to win the event – slowing down in the final few strides.
It was a world lead this year, and broke her own record of 48.89 set in June. The Jamaican, 23, now has the seventh best ever time recorded in the women’s 400m and looks primed for a gold medal in Paris.
- Nickisha Pryce to win gold in the Women’s 400m at 5/4 with William Hill – CLAIM HERE
2
Craig’s best bets
Men’s golf
Don’t know about you but I’m only just over the drama from Royal Troon last week!
The world’s best golfers will gather once again and it’s a stellar field once again – but it’s headed by one man.
Scottie Scheffler – the world number one – was well in contention for most of the competition in Scotland, with an uncharacteristic shocker on the 18th making his final position look worse than it was.
Open winner Xander Schauffele took gold four years ago from Team USA – who field a strong team this time too – but this time it can go to Scheffler.
His price isn’t huge given the strength of field but the 7/2 on offer could look huge come the medal ceremony.
- Scottie Scheffler to win gold in the men’s golf at 7/2 with William Hill – CLAIM HERE
Men’s 100m
This is shaping up to be on the duels of Paris, with a seemingly two-horse race set to unfold.
Kishane Thompson is a relative rookie, given he’s yet to compete in a World Championships or Olympic Games.
The Jamaican ran sub-9.85 in all three races he contested at the Jamaican Championships and is odds-on with most bookmakers to continue his country’s dominance in this field.
But Noah Lyles is the pick and the current 100m world champion ran as quick as he ever has to scoop gold in the final of the London Diamond League this weekend.
He broke his PB to record a 9.81 – admittedly, just slower than Thompson’s 9.77 – and his experience at this level could eke out that little bit more and he’s fancied to pass the post first.
- Noah Lyles to win gold in the men’s 100m at 7/4 with William Hill – CLAIM HERE
Betting offer of the day
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Women’s pole vault
Heart, or head? In the case of one of the Golden Girls of British track and field, it’s BOTH.
Molly Caudery has a tough task – as well as a giant pole – on her hands to topple Australian sensation Nina Kennedy in Paris.
Kennedy – the current world and Commonwealth Games champion – won again when the pair met in the London Diamond League over the weekend, with Caudery back in 3rd.
Had Kennedy nailed one of the three unsuccessful attempts at 4.95m on Saturday, it would have beaten Australia’s national record and also seen the highest mark achieved this year.
That highest mark? Held by Caudery, who achieved that feat last month. In FRANCE. A great omen.
She’s also the reigning indoor champion and you’d be a fool to write her off here, despite finishing 20cm off Kennedy on home soil just a few days ago. Would also propel her into the limelight for SPOTY if – and when – she wins gold.
- Molly Caudery to win gold in the women’s pole vault at 7/4 with William Hill – CLAIM HERE
Tennis
Again, away from the world of Athletics, there’s value in the tennis markets.
Wimbledon winner Carlos Alcaraz goes into the tournament as the bookies’ favourites, with that Grand Slam win fresh in the memory.
And he’s conquered the French Open this year too, which uses the same clay court surface as will be used here.
But world number one Jannik Sinner pushed him to five sets in the semi finals of that tournament and the 22-year-old has made at least the fourth round in four of his five French Open appearances.
Good value in the betting.
- Jannik Sinner to win gold in the men’s tennis at 11/4 with William Hill – CLAIM HERE
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- Establishes time and monetary limits before playing
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- Never chase their losses
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