The semifinal and final of the Olympic Games’ premier event will take place this Sunday when the world’s fastest men will be at the Stade de France ready to compete in the 100m dash.
This race has been in every edition of the Olympic Games in the modern era, that is, since 1896. The United States is the country that has won most times in the 100 meters, with 16 gold medals, far surpassing Great Britain’s four. For his part, Usain Bolt is the only one to have reached the top of the podium three times, and the Jamaican holds the Olympic record (9.63) and the world record (9.58).
2024 Olympics Men’s 100m Freestyle Top Contenders
The truth is that, unlike in previous editions, there is no clear favorite, but among the main candidates to take the gold in Paris 2024 is Fred Kerley. The American had the best time in the preliminary rounds with 9.97 and won the silver medal at the last Olympic Games.
The 29-year-old athlete, who won gold in the 100m at the Diamond League in 2021 and at the 2022 World Athletic Championship, knows he is facing his last chance to be crowned at the top of the athletics Olympus and does not want to miss the opportunity.
On the other hand, his compatriot Kenny Bednarek, silver medalist in Tokyo 2020 in the 200 meters, is also among the candidates. He achieved the same time as Kerley in the preliminaries, and this 2024, he achieved his best time in the 100 meters, which was 9.87, but he should still lower that time a little more if he wants to win the gold.
And we cannot leave aside the Italian Marcell Jacobs, champion in the last Olympic Games, who returned the gold to Europe since the British Linford Christie won it in Barcelona 92, besides being the first Italian to even get on the podium.
Jacobs did not have a good heat, finishing second behind Nigeria’s Kayinsola Ajayi with a time of 10.05, but this year, he won gold in the 100 meters at the European Championships. At 29 years of age, he is looking to use the last gas cartridges of his engine and return to the top of the podium.
2024 Olympics Men’s 100m Freestyle Outside Picks
The Jamaican Kishane Thompson seeks to return to his country the glory of the 100 meters. He advanced to the semifinals with a time of 10 seconds and will try to achieve his first Olympic medal, taking into account that, for now, he has the best record of the year among all runners: 9.77. It is his first Olympic Games, something that may weigh him down in the end.
The American Noah Lyles was another of those who did not have a good qualifying round, failing to get under 10 seconds, but last year he won gold at the World Championship in Budapest and already knows what it is to win an Olympic medal by winning bronze in the 200 meters in Tokyo.
Finally, let’s not forget Andre De Grasse. The Canadianhas two bronzes in this race in Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020, in addition to four other Olympic medals, where the gold obtained in the 200 meters in the last Games stands out. Although the 100 meters is not his specialty, he can take advantage of the fact that there is no great favorite to win.
2024 Olympics Men’s 100m Freestyle Podium Betting Picks
1. Fred Kerley
2. Kishane Thompson
3. Noah Lyles
EN 
ES 
PT 
PT_BR