- China’s Pan Zhanle (-115) is favored in the men’s 100m freestyle swimming event
- Australian Mollie O’Callaghan (+125) and Hong Kong’s Siobhan Haughey (+180) will compete for gold in the women’s competition
- Paris 2024’s swimming athletes will gather in Paris La Defense Arena from July 27 to August 4, 2024
Freestyle swimming has been an Olympic competition since 1896. China’s Pan Zhanle is expected to take the men’s gold after recording the fastest 100 meters in history at the 2024 World Championships in Doha. Meanwhile, Mollie O’Callaghan of Australia claimed the 100m and 200m freestyle women’s titles at last year’s world championships in Fukuoka.
Before we examine the gold medal odds in the men’s and women’s 100m freestyle events, check out our tips for Betting on the 2024 Paris Olympics and get all of our Olympic Betting Picks.
Men’s 100m Freestyle Winner
Can Pan Zhanle be beat?
Pan Zhanle (-115) is one of only five men in 100m freestyle history to break the 47-second barrier. China’s 19-year-old phenom took six hundredths off Romanian David Popovici’s 2022 world record during his blistering 46.80-second performance at the World Aquatics Championships.
Despite breaking the record, Pan said, “My performance today wasn’t the best, and the result didn’t satisfy me. I feel like my performance was just average.”
During the third day of the 2024 European Championships in Belgrade, David Popovici won the men’s 100 freestyle in 46.88. This is the 3rd fastest performance in history, only 0.08 off Pan Zhanle’s world record from the 2024 World Championships. Who will win in Paris? pic.twitter.com/CppXiJECll
— Swimming Stats (@SwimmingStats) June 19, 2024
Could Popovici take gold?
David Popovici (+200) swam to the third-fastest 100m freestyle in history at the European Aquatics Championships in June. The 19-year-old Romanian’s time of 46.88 was just 0.08 outside of Pan’s world record and 0.02 off the personal best he set when becoming a double world champion at Roma 2022.
Jack Alexy (+600) took silver in the 100m freestyle at the 2023 World Aquatics Championships, swimming the race in 47.31 seconds. However, the 6-foot-7 American sprinter likely doesn’t stand a chance against Pan and Popovici.
Women’s 100m Freestyle Winner
O’Callaghan favored
Mollie O’Callaghan (+125) could win as many as six gold medals at this year’s Paris Olympic Games. The 20-year-old Australian captured the 100m and 200m freestyle titles at last year’s world championships in Fukuoka. She also looked in top-form while capturing first place at the Australian Olympic trials with a time of 52.33 seconds.
🇦🇺 Mollie O’Callaghan takes the lead in the last 20m!
What a magic double at #AQUAFukuoka23
100-200m Free 🥇🥇@DolphinsAUS pic.twitter.com/RJxbhIn4xL— World Aquatics (@WorldAquatics) July 28, 2023
Haughey has a chance
Siobhan Haughey (+180) took home the silver medal in Tokyo in both the 100m and 200m freestyle events. The 26-year-old Hong Kong native ranks as the top swimmer in the world in the 100m after posting a time of 52.02 at the World Aquatics Swimming World Cup last October.
Best Longshot
While we like O’Callaghan (+125) to come out on top, don’t dismiss her countrymate Shayna Jack (+1000). The world silver medalist missed out on Tokyo after committing a doping infraction. But she finished just behind O’Callaghan at the Australian Olympic trials with a time of 52.75 seconds.
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