Much of the betting on the Summer Olympics comes on the track, as there's a tremendous amount of competition, particularly in the shorter sprinters which are easier to watch and handicap. Of course, when you're talking about Olympic sprinters, the discussion starts – and often ends – with Usain Bolt. With this being his third (and final) Olympic Games, many are expecting big things from the Jamaican. But can he be beaten in any of his three events?
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HANDICAPPING THE 100 METERS
The 100 meters is really Bolt's specialty. That's the race in which he turned so many heads by setting the world record originally in 2007, beating it again in 2008 and smashing that in 2009 at the Berlin World Championships, a record which still stands today.
Bolt won the 100 meters in Beijing and then again in London, and he's going to be the overwhelming favorite in the most popular sprint in the world.
Justin Gatlin says that he's certain he's going to beat Bolt in the 100 meters in Rio, but we aren't all that sure he's got much of a leg to stand on. He's been beaten by Bolt time and time again, and his personal best in the 100 meters of 9.74 seconds is nowhere near Bolt's record of 9.58 seconds.
If there's a big threat to be had, it might actually be Bolt's teammate, Yohan Blake. Blake's best 100 meter run was 9.69 seconds in 2012, and at 26 years old, this should be his prime Olympics.
HANDICAPPING THE 200 METERS
Bolt probably has a bigger edge in the 200 meters than he does in the 100 meters. The splits he has between his normal 100 meters times and his 200 meters times are generally pretty close. He's got the world record in the 200 meters at 19.19 seconds, far ahead of the 19.57 seconds of Gatlin or the 19.26 seconds of Blake.
Bolt has said that he wants to crack the 19-second mark in the Olympics in the 200 meters, and this seems to be the event he's more focused on even though the 100 meters will be the bigger draw for the audience. If there's a spot to wager on Bolt, this is probably it.
HANDICAPPING THE 4 x 100 METERS
The Jamaicans flat out aren't getting beaten in the 4 x 100 meters relay race. Blake was a big member of that team in 2012 which smashed the world record by blazing through the four legs in 36.84 seconds, an average of 9.21 seconds per 100 meters. The Americans don't have four sprinters who can make up the time which Bolt and Blake will surely be blazing through, though they've got the best shot to do so. Even though the United States was later disqualified, Gatlin was the anchor for the team which posted a 37.04 seconds run, a mark which tied the previous world record.
Generally speaking, the longer the race, the more opportunities Bolt is going to have in order to claim glory. Even though Gatlin has claimed that he's going to beat Bolt in the 100 meters, it's going to be really tough to stop the defending champion of the 100 meters, 200 meters and 4 x 100 meters from becoming the two-time champion of all three events.
Olympics Betting at BookMaker.eu
Need to fund your account before the big match but don't have your computer? No problem! BookMaker Sportsbook now offers a mobile betting cashier so you can deposit money directly from your smartphone. Don't miss out on getting paid because you couldn't bet. Click here, and deposit at BookMaker now! All eyes will be on the track and field events in the Summer Olympics to be held at the Estadio Olimplico Joao Havelange in Rio de Janeiro. The events run in the second week of the Olympics from Friday, August 12 through Sunday, August 21. All of the festivities on the track can be seen on the NBC family of networks.
