Olympics Odds July 29th – Thursday Picks for Swimming, Rowing and Gymnastics

• The Tokyo Olympics continue on Thursday, July 29th with more medals up for grabs
• USA’s Caeleb Dressel goes for gold in the pool in the 100 meter Freestyle
• Read below for odds, analysis and best bets

The United States continue to lead the overall medal standings at the Tokyo Olympics, but now trail both Japan and China in the gold medal category.

USA will have plenty of opportunities to make up some ground on Thursday (July 29th), beginning in the pool. All eyes will be on three-time gold medalist Caeleb Dressel, as he attempts to win his first individual Olympic gold medal in the 100 meter Freestyle. The 24-year-old won a pair of relay titles at the 2016 Rio Games and one already in Tokyo, but has never topped an Olympic podium as an individual.

Men’s 100 Meter Freestyle Odds

Odds as of July 28th at DraftKings.

Dressel is the only swimmer in the field to break the 47 second mark in his career, however he qualified with the second fastest time for this race behind Russian Kliment Kolesnikov. Both Kolesnikov and reigning Olympic champion Kyle Chalmers should challenge Dressel, but the American is a very worthy favorite.

GOLD for USA! 🥇

Caeleb Dressel leads the U.S. to win the GOLD in the men's 4x100m freestyle relay. #TokyoOlympics pic.twitter.com/w7cDe50yn7

— NBC Olympics & Paralympics (@NBCOlympics) July 26, 2021

He racked up a record eight medals at the 2019 World Championships, including six golds, and he’ll have his eye on the world record time of 46.91 set in 2009.

Pick: Caeleb Dressel (-115)

Women’s Lightweight Double Sculls Odds

Five teams eclipsed the world record in the Women’s Lightweight Double Sculls semifinals, led by the Italian duo of Valentina Rodini and Federica Csearini. The Italians beat the mark previously held by the Netherlands by over 2 seconds, and are fresh off winning the European Championships.

Great Britain's lightweight women's double of Emily Craig and Imogen Grant have really put down a marker in beating France and the Netherlands in their semi. That's a new world best time of 06:41.99 – 2 sec better than Dutch set in June.

— Martin Gough (@martingough22) July 28, 2021

As strong as Italy looked on Wednesday, Great Britain may be the better bet. The duo of Emily Craig and Imogen Grant were the bronze medalists at the last World Championships, and won the second World Cup Race this season.

As for the Americans, Mary Reckford and Michelle Sechser posted the second fastest semifinal time and could be worth a sprinkle as a longshot. They won their final Olympic Qualification Regatta in May and have finished top-two in each of their past two qualifying races.

Pick: Emily Clarke and Imogen Grant (+250)

Women’s Artistic Gymnastics  Odds

With Simone Biles out of the All-Around Artistic Gymnastics competition, USA’s gold medal hopes now rest with Sunisa Lee. The 18-year-old doesn’t seem phased by the pressure, as she delivered an outstanding performance to reach the final.

I just think the we should be spending as much time as possible in awe that Sunisa Lee is one of the greatest athletes of our time pic.twitter.com/XfdMYNAm2u

— Petty Okino (@PettyOkino) July 23, 2021

Lee finished third in qualifying behind Biles and Rebeca Andrade for the All-Around competition, and also qualified for the Apparatus final on the uneven bars and the beam.

Her score of 15.4 on the uneven bars was graded as the most difficult routine possible, and with no pre-event training she still scored a 13.6 floor routine when called upon to replace Biles at the final minute.

If Biles were involved, this would be her competition to lose, but Lee can take solace in the fact that she’s actually bested Biles in the past. At June’s U.S. trials she posted a better all-around score than the Olympic legend on the second day of competition.

Pick: Sunisa Lee (+175)