Olympics Betting
Update 13

Womens 50m free final (10:03 am Sunday)

Another cracking sprint race with many chances. Dara Torres, what a story, 41yo and fastest qualifier for the final. If she was from any other country, she'd be smeared with drugs innuendo. You know what? Just because people beat Aussies and Americans in their prime events does not mean they're cheats! It can mean they have watched what we do and are copying that success, particularly with Aussie coaches spreading around the globe. Torres has obviously looked after her body really well.

Torres played a bit of mindgames with the starter just before the semi which may have rattled her rivals. Will she be allowed to do that again, or more importantly, will the Aussie flyer Campbell know what to expect? Torres as swum 24.25 and 24.27, she's quick but has no other times in the vicinity.

Trickett has the WR in this event, but her next best time is half a second higher. Capable of a super-human performance or not consistent enough?
Campbell has a point to prove after missing the 100m final. Fastest in the heats, 2nd fastest in the semis, she now has the fourth, fifth and seventh fastest times in the record books.

Veldhuis held the world record for all of five days before Trickett snapped it off her. The Dutch have a rich history in sprint swimming, with the likes of De Bruijn, van den Hoogenband and the women's relay last weekend. She has nine sub-24.50 times, again consistency.

Our favourite Britta Steffen has clocked a 24.19 with her next best clocked in winning the second semi, 24.43. She comes from behind, we cheered it in the 100 final and we saw it again in the semis. She's a dead-set racer, if she's within an arm's length at halfway, then I'd want to be on her.

I want to be against Trickett and Torres. This is all about taking value. Campbell is a live chance with consistent raw speed, and I'll take anything above 5. Veldhuis at 6 and Steffen at 7 would be worth a nibble as well.

1pt Campbell at 5.50 Sportingbet, Bet365, 5.25 Centrebet &Sportsbet

Mens 1500m free (10:09 Sunday)

Hackett was written off by many including myself and then made a mockery of that with a new Olympic record in the heats. Cochrane and Prilukov also beat the previous record as this event saw an almighty lift in standard with Park, Sawrymowicz and Vanderkaay all missing the final.

Most bookies are running scared with prices around the 1.5 mark for Hackett, the Betfair mark is about 1.7 at time of writing. That's probably a touch high but not a big enough overlay for a bet.

Hackett to become the first-ever three-time gold medallist in the same event. No bet.

4x100m Medley Relays

The Yanks win the men, the Aussies win the women, just too strong.
No bet for me but you might want to take them in a double.

Athletics 17/8


Men's Hammer

Ivan Tsikhan with a massive world best this year and has won the last three world championships. He has the potential to throw huge, 83m+, I don't think the others can. Kuji Murofushi won the gold in Athens by a massive three metres. Pars is still young but has yet to do anything of note in a major event.

At the price, I think Morufushi is the value, he has shown he can throw 82m in big competitions, and that will give him a medal here, if not the gold one.

0.5pt Morufushi 8 Lasseters, TAB (7.5 Sportsbet, 7 Centrebet, take down to 6.5)

Others later if opportunities arise.

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