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Olympics Odds Today August 2nd – Picks for Medal Events in Track, Badminton, Weight Lifting

Chris Amberley

by Chris Amberley in News

Updated Aug 1, 2021 · 6:42 PM PDT

JuVaughn Harrison reacts after a jump
Juvaughn Harrison, of United States, reacts in the final of the men's high jump at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Sunday, Aug. 1, 2021, in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)
  • The Tokyo Olympics continue on Monday, August 2nd with more medals up for grabs
  • USA’s JuVaughn Harrison has his sets sight on a medal in the Long Jump final, after finishing 7th in the High Jump 
  • Read below for odds, analysis and best bets

Team USA continues to lead the overall medal standings at the Tokyo Olympics, but remain well back of China in the gold medal department. The U.S. trail the Chinese by four gold medals and will be looking to close that gap on Monday (August 2nd).

One athlete primed to challenge for a medal, and potentially even bring home a gold, is track star JuVaughn Harrison. The 22-year-old has the third shortest odds to win gold in Long Jump, and has already made history at these Games.

Men’s Long Jump Odds

Athlete Odds
Juan Miguel Echevarria (CUB) +100
Miltiadis Tentoglou (GRE) +300
JuVaughn Harrison (USA) +450
Yuki Hashioka (JPN) +600
Tajay Gayle (JAM) +800
Maykel Masso (CUB) +2500
Thobias Montler (SWE) +2500
Huang Changzhou (CHN) +8000

Odds as of August 1st at DraftKings.

Harrison is the first American male since 1912 to represent his country in both the High Jump and Long Jump. He qualified for the final in both, but failed to medal in the High Jump finishing 7th.

Harrison’s had a phenomenal 2021, winning both the indoor and outdoor NCAA championships in both events, and sweeping the two at the U.S. Olympic trials. He enters the Long Jump final with the fourth best qualifying score, but he knows he has more in the tank. His qualifying result was .34 meters short of his personal and season best, and if he can replicate his personal best number he’ll have an excellent chance to challenge for gold.

In his way however, is the favorite Juan Miguel Echevarria from Cuba, who topped the qualification round, and owns a longer personal best than Harrison. Only one jumper has posted a longer lump this season than Echevarria, and that’s Miltiadis Tentoglou, who feels underpriced at +300.

The Greek jumper finished with the second best jump in qualifying and is a strong bet to provide Greece with its second gold medal.

Pick: Miltiadis Tentoglou (+300)

Women’s Badminton Gold Medal Odds

Athletes Odds
Greysia Polii & Apriyani Rahayu (INA) +260
Chen Qingchen & Jia Yifan (CHN) -400

China and Indonesia will meet for gold in Women’s Badminton on Monday, marking the first time Indonesia has made a final in this event. Both teams are undefeated to this point, but oddsmakers have made the Chinese duo a big favorite.

Chen Qingchen and Jia Yifan are the world No. 2 pair and will be seeking China’s third gold medal in Badminton at these Games. China has won gold in five of the past six Olympics, and no duo has won more money in Badminton World Federation events this season.

Pick: Chen Qingchen & Jia Yifan (-400)

Women’s 87 kg Weightlifting Odds

Athlete Odds
Wang Zhouyu (CHN) -1200
Tamara Salazar (ECU) +700
Crismery Santana (DOM) +1000
Maria Fernanda Valdes (CHI) +1400
Naryury Perez (VEN) +2200
Mattie Rogers (USA) +2200
Lidia Valentin (ESP) +2500
Elena Cilcic (MDA) +5000

When it comes to Women’s Weightlifting in the 87 kg category, its China’s Wang Zhouyu and then everyone else. The reigning two-time world champ is an overwhelming favorite to win gold, and rightfully so.

YouTube video

Her personal best 286 kg total (629.2 lbs) is 30 kg heavier than Tamara Salazar’s, who boasts the second shortest odds. Zhouyu’s personal records are so impressive that they would have landed her on the podium in Rio in 2016 in a heavier weight class.

The question isn’t whether or not she’s going to win gold, because that’s a virtual lock, it’s whether or not she can set a new personal record.

As for American Mattie Rogers, she isn’t likely to push Zhouyu for top spot, but she should contend for a medal. The 24-year-old has medaled at three straight World Championships and if she can approach the 251 kg total she hit at the Pan Am Championships this year, a second place finish is within her range of outcomes.

Pick: Wang Zhouyu (-1200)

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