Eric Uribe
Perhaps no event is more synonymous with the Olympic Games than the 100-meter dash — and it’s not even close. The dash-to-the-finish race took place at the first-ever Games in 1896 and has been a staple ever since. That remains the case in Tokyo’s 2020 Games. Ahead of both the men’s and women’s runs, here’s our 100-meter dash betting picks for the gold medal.
Men’s 100-Meter Dash Betting Pick
This is the first Olympic dash in the post-Usain Bolt era. Widely considered the greatest sprinter in history, Bolt three-peated with gold at this event between 2008 and 2016. With an all-timer like Bolt retired, the betting odds aren’t nearly as lopsided this time around. Here’s who the online bookies are favoring to win gold in the event:
| Player |  |  |
| Trayvon Bromell (USA) | -125 | -125 |
| Ronnie Baker (USA) | +500 | +500 |
| Akani Simbine (South Africa) | +700 | +700 |
| Andre De Grasse (Canada) | +1000 | +1000 |
Before we get into our free betting picks, we should preface that the final field isn’t set in this event yet (nor the women’s side). One of the names featured in the betting table above could be eliminated or forced out with injury. We’re making our betting prediction without knowing what’ll happen in the preliminaries and early rounds, which, if you’ve followed the sport before, know that anything can happen.
Trayvon Bromell
Among active sprinters, no one has a faster 100-meter dash time than Bromell’s 9.77 — slightly ahead of his teammate, Baker (9.85). Bromell’s time was set just this past June, too. It feels like Bromell is peaking at the exact right time.
A slew of injuries — including one sustained at the 2016 Olympics — have long held Bromell back from reaching his max potential. He’s finally fit and that’s shown the past two years. We’re betting Bromell to win gold, but at minimum, you should wager with him to place on the podium (which is -400).
Women’s 100-Meter Dash Betting Pick
While Jamaica’s reign of dominance on the men’s side appears to be over, that’s not the case with the women. Three of the top-four betting favorites hail from the country.
| Player | | |
| Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce (Jamaica) | -135 | -135 |
| Elaine Thompson-Herah (Jamaica) | +225 | +225 |
| Dina Asher-Smith (Great Britain) | +600 | +600 |
| Shericka Jackson (Jamaica) | +1200 | +1200 |
Shelly Ann-Fraser-Pryce
If Fraser-Pryce wins gold in Japan, she’ll join her former teammate, Bolt, as the only sprinters to win three different gold medals at this event. And that’s exactly what we’re betting will happen.
The 34-year-old won gold in 2008 and 2016, but only bronze in 2016. However, even after all these years in the sport, she’s never looked better. Back in early June, Fraser-Pryce set a personal record of 10.63 seconds — a mark that’s actually the fastest-clocked 100-meter dash among women in over three decades. That same hot streak will etch her name forever in the record books come the medal sprint.
Prop Bet: Will A World Record Be Set?
Here’s a prop that bettors flock to during the Olympics. After all, who doesn’t like when a world record is challenged?
This time around though, sportsbooks are of the strong belief that no speed record will be set. Betting “no” on the prop is a staggering favorite in both events — -2000 for women and -3000 in men. Brave soldiers that think otherwise can wager yes, which is +800 (men) and +700 (women).
Our advice is to save your money and skip this prop bet altogether. Yes, it’s fun, but there’s no betting value here. No one is touching the records set by Bolt (9.58 seconds) or Florence Griffith-Joyner (10.59). Even then, it’s not worth betting “no” on those steep odds since they’re the definition of a high-risk, low-reward wager which is always a no-no in sports gambling.
How To Watch & Bet The 100-Meter Dash
There are few sporting events as exciting as a 100-meter sprint in the Olympics. The intensity of pre-race, the firing off of the starting gun, razor-close finishes — all of those elements make the event “must-see” TV. Seriously, if there’s one Olympic event to watch, it’s this one.
The final in the men’s run goes down on Sunday, August 1. The women’s event finale is the day before on July 31. Due to the time-zone difference in Japan, both events will happen in the wee hours of American time. The preliminary round, heats, and semifinals will happen in the days immediately beforehand.
Per usual, the NBC Sports Network will air the medal matchups for traditional TV viewers. But those that prefer streaming can download Peacock to watch the live airings. Peacock is the only avenue where viewers in the United States can watch track and field events in real-time (without tape delay).
To lock in your 100-meter dash bets, then visit one of the online sportsbooks listed below. Not only will you find up-to-date odds on track, but the same goes for any other event at the 2020 Olympic Games. These bookmakers are your one-stop destination for the entire event, which runs until August 8.
But if that wasn’t enough, these same betting sites are currently offering welcome bonuses to new players. And not just any bonuses, but ones that dole out hundreds to thousands of dollars in free play! Free money that you can wager right back on the Olympic games.
The best part? Earning these bonuses is quick and easy. The process requires all of two steps, which can be completed in minutes. All you need to do is register a new playing account and deposit money into it. After that, your sports betting ability is “off to the races” — pun fully intended!
