Team GB medal hopefuls in action (8 August)
Team GB medal hopefuls in action today
Find our full Olympic betting pack here. We’ve previewed the young stars you won’t want to miss, looked at the men’s football tournament and identified some of the Team GB stars who could pick up a gold at London 2012
Shanaze Reade – BMX
Best price – 5/2 with William Hill here
Shanaze Reade was expected to take gold in Beijing, but after crashing out on the last bend and missing out on a medal, she will again set her sights on gold. She won at last year’s World Championship, despite a damaged wrist, so if the 23-year-old can keep her cool she looks good to win her overdue gold. The BMX event begins today before concluding on Friday.
Mo Farah – 5000m
Best price – 5/4 with Sportingbet here
Mo Farah will be hoping to have a much improved second Olympiad, and after surging to a remarkable win in the 10,000m the odds don’t look as good for the 5,000m. A sixth in Beijing in the 10,000m has been long forgotten and the 29-year-old won gold at the 2010 World Championships in both distances, only the fifth man to have achieved this. A relocation to Portland has paid handsomely for Farah, and his form in the World Championships in South Korea indicates he should be in the mix today. The crowd played their part on Saturday and may be able to lift Farah again this evening.
Perri Shakes-Drayton – 400m Hurdles
Best price – 7/2 with William Hill here
The 400m hurdles promises to be a very open field and the East-London born Shakes-Drayton could easily snatch gold here. She won in the recent Diamond League Grand Prix, running a personal best in what was a wet and windy English night. Her time of 53.77 is the second fastest set in the world this year, and if she can prove that this wasn’t a flash in the pan another gold looks a goer.
Annie Lush, Lucy MacGregor and Kate MacGregor - Women’s Elliot 6m Team
Best price – 23/10 with Sportingbet here
This trio of athletes are more than capable of taking gold in this event, with Team USA their closest rivals. The team came together in 2012 and have already won European and world championship titles. Annie Lush has Olympic experience from Athens, Lucy MacGregor skippers the boat and her 20-year-old sister completes the line up. A perfect blend of experience and skill, they will be challengers come August 11th and the end of the event.
