Paris 2024 Olympics – Daily Predictions (31/07/24): O’Callaghan & Marchand searching to rack up pool golds
Each day, TSZ picks out some key Gold Medal events at the Paris Olympic Games.
Olympic Basketball Predictions
GENERAL OVERVIEW
When is the Paris 2024 Olympics taking place? The Paris 2024 Olympics is taking take place between 26th July, 2024 and 11th August 2024, although some preliminary events began on 24th July, 2024.
Where is the Paris 2024 Olympics taking place? While the majority of Olympic action will take place in Paris, 16 other French cities, as well as Tahiti in French Polynesia, will host men's Surfing.
How to get tickets for the Paris 2024 Olympics: Click here for the latest ticket information for the Paris Olympics
How to watch the Paris 2024 Olympics: In the UK, the BBC is the main broadcaster while some men’s Surfing will be televised on Eurosport. In USA, NBC is the main broadcaster while some events will be shown on NBCSN, CNBC, USA Network and Telemundo.
MEN’S SURFING
What time is the men’s Surfing taking place? UK – 2:34am / France – 3:34am / Tuesday 30th July, 2024 - US ET – 9:34pm / US PT – 7:34pm
Where is the men’s Surfing taking place? Teahupo’o, Tahiti
Who is the reigning Olympic champion in the men’s Surfing? Italo Ferreira (BRA)
PREDICTION
The 2024 men’s surfing competition is expected to be quite an open affair after Italo Ferreira won inaugural gold medal of the event back in Tokyo. None of three medallists from Tokyo, which included Japan’s Kanoa Igarashi and Owen Wright of Australia, are expected to be in contention for the podium this time around, albeit Igrasahi has once again qualified for Paris.
It is, though, still expected that the gold medal remains in Brazilian hands with Gabriel Medina, who has won three World Games golds, including two at the recent 2024 event, the bookies’ favourite. Hawaii-born John John Florence of the United States and Australia’s Jack Robinson are the most in-form surfers that qualified from the 2023 World Surf League but Brazil to retain gold in the men’s surfing seems the best bet.
TIP: GABRIEL MEDINA (BRA) TO WIN
WOMEN’S 100M FREESTYLE
What time is the women’s 100m freestyle taking place? UK – 7:30pm / France – 8:30pm / US ET – 2:30pm / US PT – 12:30pm
Where is the women’s 100m freestyle taking place? La Defense Arena, Paris
Who is the reigning Olympic champion in the women’s 100m freestyle? Emma McKeon (AUS)
Who is the current world record holder of the women’s 100m freestyle? Sarah Sjostrom (SWE) with 51.71 in Budapest on 23rd July 2017
PREDICTION
Australia took the gold and bronze medal in this event three years ago with Emma McKeon and Cate Campbell getting on the podium. However, neither are representing the Aussies this time around in the women’s 100m freestyle with Mollie O’Callaghan, who won her first individual Olympic gold medal in the 200m freestyle when she edged past compatriot Ariarne Titmus the other day, going off alongside Shayna Jack. World record holder Sarah Sjostorm, of Sweden, has also qualified for Paris.
Both Jack and O’Callaghan are expected to be in contention for the podium but they will be challenged by the likes of the Netherlands’ Maarit Steenbergen and Siobhan Haughey, representing Hong Kong. O’Callaghan, though, at just 20, is quickly establishing herself as a potential all-time great and the Brisbane-born swimmer to pick up her sixth Olympic gold medal would be the likeliest outcome.
TIP: MOLLIE O’CALLAGHAN (AUS) TO WIN
MEN’S 200M BUTTERFLY
What time is the men’s 200m butterfly taking place? UK – 7:36pm / France – 8:36pm / US ET – 2:36pm / US PT – 12:36pm
Where is the men’s 200m butterfly taking place? La Defense Arena, Paris
Who is the reigning Olympic champion in the men’s 200m butterfly? Kristof Milak (HUN)
Who is the current world record holder of the men’s 200m butterfly? Kristof Milak (HUN) with 1:50.34 in Budapest on 21st June 2022
PREDICTION
The dominant force in the men’s 200m butterfly has often been Hungary’s Kristof Malik. The 24-year-old won the gold medal in Tokyo and set an Olympic Record to do so before setting the world record a year later. He also won the 2019 and 2020 World Championship gold medals for this event, too.
However, it is the coming force of world swimming that is expected to take the gold medal here. 22-year-old Leon Marchand, who picked up his first Olympic gold in the 400m medley the other day, won the 2023 World Championship gold in Fukuoka for the 200m butterfly and is expected to dominate the sport in the mould of Michael Phelps, who was coached by Marchand’s coach, Bob Bowman. Despite Malik’s statistical dominance of this event, it is Marchand that is expected to continue what could be a stellar games at home.
TIP: LEON MARCHAND (FRA) TO WIN
MEN’S 200M BREASTSTROKE
What time is the men’s 200m breaststroke taking place? UK – 9:08pm / France – 10:08pm / US ET – 4:08pm / US PT – 2:08pm
Where is the men’s 200m breaststroke taking place? La Defense Arena, Paris
Who is the reigning Olympic champion in the men’s 200m breaststroke? Zac Stubblety-Cook (AUS)
Who is the current world record holder of the men’s 200m breaststroke? Haiyang Qin (CHN) with 2:05.48 in Fukuoka on 28th July 2023
PREDICTION
All three of the medallists from Tokyo three years ago are back to challenge for the podium once again in the men’s 200m breaststroke with Australian Zac Stubblety-Cook seeking to defend his title from the pressures of, once again, Arno Kamminga of the Netherlands and Finnish swimmer Matti Mattsson.
However, there is really stiff competition this time around in the form of China’s Qin Haiyang, who set the world record for the event at the World Championships in Fukuoka last year, and the potentially dominant force of men’s swimming, Leon Marchand. Whilst Marchand is an excellent all-rounder, this is one of his weaker suits so, albeit likely to still challenge for the podium, Stubblety-Cook and Haiyang do appear to be the frontrunners and if Haiyang can reach near the heights of Fukuoka then he will surely take gold.
TIP: QIN HAIYANG (CHN) TO WIN
MEN’S 100M FREESTYLE
What time is the men’s 100m freestyle taking place? UK – 9:15pm / France – 10:15pm / US ET – 4:15pm / US PT – 2:15pm
Where is the men’s 100m freestyle taking place? La Defense Arena, Paris
Who is the reigning Olympic champion in the men’s 100m freestyle? Caeleb Dressel (USA)
Who is the current world record holder of the men’s 100m freestyle? Pan Zhanle (CHN) with 46.80 set in Doha on 11th February 2024
PREDICTION
28-year-old eight-time Olympic gold medallist and defending champion of this event, Caeleb Dressel, is not racing in the men’s 100m freestyle this year, despite helping Team USA win gold in the 4x100m freestyle relay earlier this week. His compatriot, Jack Alexy, is among the leading contenders for the gold, as is Australia’s Kyle Chalmers and Team GB’s Matt Richards, fresh from a surprise silver medal in the men’s 200m freestyle, are also expected to challenge.
Romania’s David Popovici, who won gold in the 200m freestyle, is also expected to be among those challenging for the podium but it is really difficult to look past Chinese swimmer Pan Zhanle, who set a new world record time for the event earlier this year in Doha when he smashed through the two lengths in just 46.80 seconds.
TIP: PAN ZHANLE (CHN) TO WIN
GYMNASTICS: MEN’S ALL-ROUND
What time is the Gymnastics: men’s All-Round taking place? UK – 4:30pm / France – 5:30pm / US ET – 11:30am / US PT – 9:30am
Where is the Gymnastics: men’s All-Round taking place? Bercy Arena, Paris
Who is the reigning Olympic champion in the Gymnastics: men’s All-Round? Daiki Hashimoto (JPN)
PREDICTION
The reigning Olympic champion, Daiki Hashimoto, is back to defend his crown in the men’s individual all-round event after he helped the Japanese win the team all-round event the other day ahead of China and the United States. However, he heads into the final after finishing third in qualification behind his compatriot, Shinnosuke Oka, and China’s Zhang Boheng.
There does appear to be a gulf between the top three and the rest of the field but there are four within a chasing pack that could get close; two of those includes Team GB gymnasts Jake Jarman and Joe Fraser. Whilst the two Japanese gymnasts, Hashimoto and Oka, have the experience to apply pressure to Boheng; he was almost faultless in qualification and it is difficult to see him slipping up here.
TIP: ZHANG BOHENG (CHN) TO WIN
