It’s almost time for the Summer Olympics—which means track and field fans the world over are gearing up for the top tier in global competitions. With only a few months to go until the games begin, it’s a time of great speculation and excitement for fans.
Which underdogs will pull ahead and shock the world? Will the athletes who missed out on gold in Tokyo find their place on the podium this time around? And which runners will make the podium? Some viewers will bet on the outcome of their favorite events. Track and field is one of the most popular for bettors as they shop around on a site like Oddschecker for odds and offers to bet on the Olympic Games.
Bettors aren’t the only ones who will zero in on the action. At the moment, many Olympic pundits are listing out their favorites in a variety of track and field events. While it’s too soon to forecast any champions and there are always last-minute factors to consider, there are a few athletes that track and field fans should keep an eye on.
Here are four of the world’s leading favorites in the 100m, 200m and 1500m.
(US) Christian Coleman, 100m, 200m
Like Sha’Carri Richardson, who is covered below, Christian Coleman is one of the hottest topics in US track and field right now. Coleman missed out on his chance to compete in Tokyo due to missed drug tests—a slip-up that won’t be happening again this year.
Back in 2016, Coleman finished sixth in Rio for the 100m. This year, he’ll be taking on both the 100m and 200m events for the US. However, though he is the US’s fastest short-distance male sprinter, Coleman has made his name more recently by competing in the 600m. Does he have the legs to go farther in Paris?
(Norway) Jakob Ingebrigtsen, 1500m
Norway’s Jakob Ingebrigtsen is the top dog in the track and field world, with both Tokyo’s 1500m gold under his belt and two world titles. The idea that Ingebrigtsen would slip up seems like a long shot, but he’ll face plenty of competition this year in the 1500m.
Will Ingebrigsten be able to hold his own with the likes of Josh Kerr (UK) and Yared Nuguse (US)? Some doubt his ability to take another gold, while others think the pressure will see Ingebrigsten break the previous world record.
(US) Sha’Carri Richardson, 100m, 200m, 4×100 relay
Though Coleman also lost out on his chance to compete in Tokyo, his absence wasn’t nearly as controversial or grabby as Sha’Carri Richardson’s failed drug test. Regardless of how the world reacted at the time, Richardson has a larger following than ever before—meaning audiences are rooting for the American sprinter.
Not only is she a dominant force on the track, but Richardson has the recognizable passion that fans love to see in athletes. She also has a gold from the 100m event at the 2023 Track and Field Championships, meaning Richardson is in shape and hungrier than ever before for a shot at the Olympics.
(Jamaica) Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, 100m, 200m, 4×100 relay
Richardson has one woman standing in her way of gold for the 100m, 200m and 4×100 relay—and that’s Jamaica’s Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce. In her four Olympics appearances, she’s only failed to bring home a gold medal once—and even then, she had a silver and a bronze in her pocket. Fraser-Pryce is one of the most experienced and elite short-distance runners in the world. Fraser-Pryce recently announced her plans to retire after the Olympic Games in Paris, so this year, she’ll be more motivated than ever to take home a gold medal. Will Richardson have the wheels to take down Fraser-Pryce in her first Olympic appearance? That’s one of the questions that will be answered this summer.