Mollie O'Callaghan and David Popovici Tipped For Success In Paris 2024 Olympic Games 100m Freestyle Swimming

Henry Shepherd
By , Updated on: Aug 2, 2024 12:00 AM
2024 Olympic Gymnastics Betting Picks

In just a short time, La Défense arena will come alive as the spotlight shines on the pinnacle of swimming—the Olympics. The 2024 Games in Paris will feature pool swimming events from July 27 to August 4. Read on for our betting preview for the men's and women's 100m Freestyle races.

  • What? Paris 2024 Olympic Games Swimming, 100m Freestyle, men and women.
  • Where? La Defense Arena, Paris, France
  • When? July 27 – August 4, 2024

For all the information you need about Olympics 2024 betting - how to bet on the Paris Olympics, check out our guide.

Women’s 100m Freestyle

Olympic 2024 Swimming Women's FreestyleBetUSXbetMyBookie
Mollie O'Callaghan+110+121+116
Siobhan Haughey+220+202+204
Marrit Steenbergen+450+520+560
Shayna Jack+1000+1025+980
Kate Douglass+1300+1150+1200

As the Paris Olympic Games approach, the women’s 100m freestyle competition has become increasingly intriguing. Neither reigning gold medalist and Olympic record holder Emma McKeon nor reigning bronze medalist Cate Campbell qualified for the event individually this year, setting the stage for a new champion to emerge. This race promises to be tightly contested, with the top five competitors separated by just 26 one-hundredths of a second.

Australia’s Mollie O’Callaghan, the world champion in the 100 free for both 2022 and 2023, isn't the top seed. That honor goes to Siobhan Haughey, who clocked an impressive 52.02 last fall. This time makes her the third-fastest swimmer ever in the event and the fastest since McKeon’s 51.96 at the Tokyo Olympics.

Mollie O'Callaghan (+121)

Australia’s Mollie O’Callaghan enters the 100m event as the frontrunner for gold at Paris 2024. Known for consistently fielding strong swimming teams, the Australian squad is formidable once again this year. With odds of +121, the best sports betting sites are confident she will win.

O’Callaghan made a significant impact in her Olympic debut at Tokyo 2020. At just 17 years old, she secured two gold medals and a bronze, contributing significantly to Team Australia’s success in the 4x100m and 4x200m freestyle relays.

Now, at 20, O’Callaghan aims for individual glory in Paris. She’s coming off a series of victories, having won gold at the 2024 NSW Championships, 2024 AUS Championships, and 2024 AUS Olympic Trials. On June 14, she posted a time of 52.33 seconds.

Her main competitor, Siobhan Haughey (+220), has recently recorded times of 52.78, 52.72, and 52.76 seconds. Haughey hasn’t surpassed O’Callaghan’s 52.33 since last year. While Haughey could seize gold if O’Callaghan has an off day, O’Callaghan’s usual performance should secure her the top spot. Betting odds of +121 present a strong value for O’Callaghan’s chances in the 100m freestyle.

Mollie O’Callaghan 2024 Olympic Games Swimming 100m Freestyle,
Xbet
+121

Men’s 100m Freestyle

Olympic 2024 Swimming Men's FreestyleBetUSXbetMyBookie
Pan Zhanle-120-111-111
David Popovici+185+212+212
Jack Alexy+500+550+550
Kyle Chalmers+800+880+850
Chris Guiliano+1600+1075+1075

The spotlight is on men's 100m freestyle world record holder Pan Zhanle in a highly competitive field at Paris 2024. He holds a slight edge as the betting favorite for the gold medal over David Popovici. With odds of -111, the emerging Chinese star is favorite to win gold in the men’s 100m freestyle.

Pan Zhanle (-111)

In February, Pan Zhanle set a new men's 100m freestyle record at the 2024 World Championships, clocking in at 46.80 seconds during the 4x100m freestyle relay. He also impressed at the 2023 Asian Games, recording an exceptional time of 46.97 seconds in the men's 100m, making him only the third swimmer in history to break the 47-second barrier.

Just two months later, Zhanle matched this feat at the 2024 CHN Championships with another 46.97-second performance. At 19 years old, he is a rising star with a strong chance to maintain his dominance at Paris 2024.

Pan Zhanle 2024 Olympic Games Swimming 100m Freestyle,
Xbet
+121

David Popovici (+212)

Romania’s David Popovici is another young swimmer poised for significant success. Known as a prodigy since his early days in competitive swimming, Popovici has had high expectations surrounding his career. While he hasn't fully met those expectations yet, he was the previous record holder in the men’s 100m freestyle before Pan Zhanle emerged.

Popovici recently delivered an outstanding performance at the 2024 LEN Championships, clocking in at 46.88 seconds on June 20, 2024, surpassing Zhanle’s recent times. This sets the stage for a thrilling showdown between Zhanle and Popovici.

With such a close race anticipated, Popovici presents strong betting value at +212 to win gold. While Romania may not be among the top contenders in the Paris 2024 medal table, Popovici has a promising chance to boost his country's standings.

David Popovici 2024 Olympic Games Swimming 100m Freestyle,
Xbet
+212

Best Olympics Betting Sites

Below are the top online sportsbooks for Olympic bets. These platforms provide extensive Olympic betting markets. The key is to read our sportsbook reviews to identify which ones offer the most options and the best odds.

Meet the author

Henry Shepherd

Henry started his career in the betting industry before moving in to writing. He specializes in soccer, golf and darts but covers a multitude of sports from all over the world. After finishing University with a BA Honors degree in Business and Management, Henry work...

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