- What: Summer Olympics - Men's Taekwondo 80kg. Weight Class
- Who: Seo Geon-woo, Simone Alessio, Carl Nickolas, and more
- Date: Friday, August 9th, 2024
- Location: Champs de Mars Arena in Paris, France
- Time: Friday: Preliminaries (3:00 a.m. ET), Quarters (8:40 am ET), Semis (1:30 pm ET) Medals Block (2:30 p.m. ET)
- How to Watch: Peacock - Finals will be on USA
Taekwondo comes next in our series of previews. When it comes to the Olympic schedule, . From lighter weights to the big kickers, there is something for every fan of every discipline. Today, we look at the 80 kg. weight class on the Men's side. When it comes to 2024 Olympic Taekwondo Bets, this is a stacked and contentious class.
Seo Geon-Woo, Simone Alessio, and Carl Nickolas represent quite a field. Geon-Woo (KOR) and Alessio (ITA) have been 1 and 2 for some time in the odds. However, it is hard to completely discount the American in the field (Nickolas). Yes, some are bemused by the 80+ KG and the heavier categories. On the other hand, this weight represents a little agility and balance with brute strength.
Taekwondo is a Korean discipline that features kicking, punching, and the way. That is how taek-won-do breaks down, literally. Yes, the uniform is known as a dobok. World Taekwondo represents the governing body for the sport when it comes to the Olympics and Paralympics.
Now, will those co-favorites actually meet? Will Nickolas get to the Final? Is there someone else under the radar? We have a great Olympics 2024 betting guide and you can find the premium online sportsbook reviews. Do not forget this handy table below.
| Men's 80 KG Taekwondo |  |  |  |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seo Geon-woo | +200 | +200 | +220 |
| Simone Alessio | +200 | +200 | +220 |
| Carl Nickolas | +600 | +600 | +650 |
| Seif Eissa | +800 | +700 | +750 |
| Firas Katoussi | +1000 | +1100 | +1000 |
| Saleh Al-Sharabaty | +1500 | +1600 | +1400 |
For more odds, click on our UFC betting page.
Olympic Taekwondo: Seo Geon-Woo Betting Breakdown
So the 2024 Olympic Taekwondo Bets understand that this weight class is literally divided. Not only that, this goes across almost every major sportsbook. Seo Geon-Woo (KOR) is a coin flip co-favorite with Simone Alessio. It is pretty crazy when one thinks about this. Without the Russians, only Saleh Al-Sharabaty and Seif Eissa are returning medalists at this weight.
His tournament form in 2024 is brief and is a bit of a mixed bag. Again, in two short years, Geon-woo has won six events including the US Open held earlier this year. That was sandwiched by bronze medals at the Canada Open and Asian Championships. It is hard to believe Geon-woo is only 20 years old. The Manchester Grand Prix to end 2023 may have been his crowning achievement as he defeated several rivals that will be in this Olympiad.
Again, the young fighter has never been on this stage and that is the chief concern here. How will he fare in the preliminaries where Geon-Woo is expected to easily advance. His 34-10 record is one of the better ones in the field. Now, what happens if adversity should appear? The last result at the Asian Championships raises a couple of red flags.
The fact that his ceiling is high does not hurt. Time is on his side. Opponents have to hope for an off start early. Yes, once Geon-woo gets going, look out!
2024 Olympic Taekwondo Bets And Simone Alessio
Simone Alessio comes in as a co-favorite oddly enough. People forget that he is the 2023 World Champion at 80 KG. Also, Alessio won the 74 KG weight class at the 2019 World Championships. The 2024 Olympic Taekwondo Bets do wonder how Alessio is only a co-favorite here despite so much success for the 24-year-old. He has won three open events this year but also did not fare so well at the European Championships.
His ability to stay ranked number one in the world is uncanny. This 80 KG weight class keeps getting more and more competitive. It feels like anyone can beat anyone. Look at what happened at the European Championships. Without the Russians at the Olympics, there is a void that is noticeable. Maksim Kharamctov would be an overwhelming favorite.
If there is any competitor that can win this, it is Alessio who kind of represents the best of the rest. He has proven to be the most consistent at this weight class over the past couple years. He has beaten nearly everyone whether it be in exhibitions or tournaments. That is aside from the Russian of course. Now, the good news is Alessio's Olympic experience should pay dividends as he goes for the Gold.
Olympic Taekwondo: Carl Nickolas And Other Contenders?
When going down the 2024 Olympic Taekwondo Bets rabbit hole, we ask about Carl Nickolas and other contenders. This becomes quite the dilemma. For Americans who do not know, Nickolas has been one of the highest decorated athletes in this discipline. He has done everything but win at the highest level. At just 23, he is already the third-highest ranked taekwondo fighter in the world. The Californian has a shot to medal and maybe more.
Some asked about the two returning medalists, Seif Eissa and Saleh Al-Sharabaty. The concern is Eissa and Al-Sharabaty have not shown much of that previous 2021 form. The Tokyo Olympics were three years ago in far different conditions. The Egyptian (Eissa) may have a better chance since he did finish third at the worlds just last year. Eissa is +800 on Bovada while Al-Sharabaty is +1500 via BetOnline.
Getting back to Nickolas reveals a few things. Is he conditioned to make an Olympic run? Some believe so. The best part is some expected his numbers to shorten as the Olympics approached. Fortunately, they did not. Thanks to BetUS, a solid +650 greets us a mere days before the Summer Olympics start. Getting longer odds may not be likely.
In a couple of weeks, we will find out how good Nickolas truly is. However, do not be shocked if the American shows his true mettle on the world stage.
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