Athletes you simply can’t miss in the last week of the Olympics
The Paris Olympics is in full swing! Here’s OlyBet.TV’s cheatsheet of athletes whose performances must be watched this coming week.
Femke Bol – 400m hurdles
Only two women have completed a stadium lap spiced with hurdles in under 51 seconds. These remarkable times were run this year, with Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone running 50.65 at the end of June and Bol running 50.95 a few weeks later.
While McLaughlin-Levrone’s world record wasn’t surprising — she previously held the record — Bol’s time was a bit unexpected. The Dutch athlete improved her already impressive personal record by half a second.
The 24-year-old from Amersfoort is having a fantastic season. She left the European Championships in June with two golds and one bronze. She already has one gold from the Olympics, leading the Netherlands to victory as the 4x400m mixed relay anchor.
With McLaughlin-Levrone and Bol starting in the 400m hurdles in Paris, a grand final is expected, potentially with a new world record. Given the current season, it wouldn’t be surprising if the European woman sets it.
The final for this event will be held on the evening of August 8th.
Armand Duplantis – pole vault
When talking about athletics world records, bringing up Duplantis is unavoidable. Born in the USA but representing Sweden internationally, the pole vaulter is only 24 years old but has already set seven world records. The latest was this April in China, clearing 6.24 meters.
It’s worth mentioning that Duplantis, who has dominated pole vaulting for the past four years, is usually in great shape during major competitions. Two of his seven world records were set while winning gold, and he last stood on the top step of the podium with a vault of less than six meters at a championship event in 2018 at the U20 World Championships.
In Paris, Duplantis is a huge favorite for gold. Only American Christopher Nielsen has jumped at least six meters this year, and that was early in the year. Duplantis holds eight of the season’s nine best results, and missing out on gold would be akin to an earthquake.
The world’s best pole vaulter will be crowned at the Olympics on the evening of August 5th.
Noah Lyles – 200m sprint
The sprinter announced in March that his goal for the year is to set the men’s 200m world record. This record belongs to the legendary Usain Bolt, who ran 19.19 at the 2009 World Championships. Lyles was brave enough to say he aims to run 19.10.
Although the 27-year-old American has not been that fast yet, he shone at the US Olympic Trials in late June. He had a fantastic duel with Kenneth Bednarek: Lyles ran 19.53, and Bednarek 19.59. These are also the two best times of the season.
Therefore, Lyles is in great shape ahead of the Olympics. Even if Bolt’s world record doesn’t fall, the American has a clear goal: to trade the bronze he won in Tokyo for gold in Paris.
The men’s 200m final will take place on the evening of August 8th.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander – basketball
Canada deserves a lot of praise for their work in basketball over the last decade or so. In addition to producing great players, their federation has managed to get the country’s best guys on the same page, and after winning bronze at last year’s World Championships, the minimum goal this year is to reach the Olympic final.
Canada has won only one medal in the Olympic basketball tournament — a silver in 1936 — and is led by Gilgeous-Alexander. Playing for the Oklahoma City Thunder, he has become one of the NBA’s most skilled offensive players, averaging at least 30 points per game in the regular season over the past two seasons.
While Gilgeous-Alexander has yet to reach such high averages in Paris due to different rules and less playing time, he carries a heavy load, especially with Denver Nuggets star Jamal Murray being out of shape.
On August 6th, Canada will face France in the quarterfinals. The hosts have been poor and will enter the match as underdogs.
Dennis Schröder – basketball
Schröder might not be an NBA superstar like Gilgeous-Alexander, but Germany wouldn’t trade their point guard for anyone else. Schröder is not only an outstanding basketball player but also the spiritual leader of his team.
After last year’s World Championship title, head coach Gordon Herbert — who will leave the team after the Olympics to focus on club basketball — said that Schröder played a significant role in ensuring that all the best players would sacrifice three consecutive summers for the Eurobasket, FIBA World Cup, and Olympics. With two medals secured, they are now chasing a third.
While forward Franz Wagner also deserves much praise, Schröder drives their success. In the last group game against France, he scored 26 points, constantly confusing the French players. Whether it was a three-pointer, a drive to the basket, or finding an open teammate, Schröder ran the show.
Germany’s pursuit of Olympic gold continues on August 6th in the quarterfinals against Greece and Giannis Antetokounmpo. Schröder will need to shine again, although great defensive players Thomas Walkup and Nick Calathes will try to stop him.
