Team GB medal hopefuls in action (9 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
Keri-Anne Payne – 10km Open Water Swimming
Best price – 7/4 with Sportingbet here
Keri-Anne Payne could provide a late flourish for Team GB and she starts as heavy favourite to win the 10km open water swim. She came close in Beijing, but after winning World Championships in 2009 and 2011 she as established herself at the top of her sport. Payne relies on a fast start to get her away from the midfield scrapping and will want to get ahead early so she can dictate the race. If she doesn’t, then the open swim is an event where anything can happen.
Tom Stalker – Boxing Light Welterweight
Best price – 3/1 with Paddy Power here
28-year-old Stalker came to boxing late, aged 18 following the death of his nan, and he is the number one ranked boxer in this category according to the AIBA. Roniel Iglesias will be the main threat to Tom winning the gold medal, and the Liverpool native should be able to add a gold to his 2010 BOA Olympic Athlete of the Year accolade.
Nicola Adams – Boxing Flyweight
Best price – 4/5 with Betfair here
Nicola Adams is guaranteed a silver at least after confirming what was a likely showdown between herself and China’s Cancan Ren. Adams was the first British woman to win a major title with her triumph at the European Championships in 2011. 2012 has been all about her bouts with current world number one, Cancan Ren. There have been two previous meetings between the pairs; with the score currently one each. Adams can claim the win here, but will certainly be in for her toughest fight so far.
Jade Jones – Taekwondo 57kg
Best price – 14/1 with William Hill
Jade Jones is the current Youth Olympic Champion and was the first Great Britain athlete to claim a title at the competition in Singapore in 2010. Since moving up to senior level, she has landed a bronze and silver medal in World and European Championships. A disappointing bronze earlier this year will not have put off the 19-year-old, and she could be in the gold medal mix.
