Rio 2016 – Aging Bolt Still the Fave in the 100M

The fastest man in the World, Usain Bolt, will be looking to become the first sprinter to win Olympic gold in the 100 meter dash three straight times, surpassing American legend Carl Lewis, the only other man to ever repeat as the 100-meter champ (1984, 1988).

Bolt is dealing with a hamstring injury in the build up to Rio and hasn’t run under 9.88 seconds all year. Indeed, Justin Gatlin has posted the fastest time in the world (9.80) this season, just like he did in 2014 and 2015.

But Bolt was still able to top the American at the 2015 World Championships, and he remains the favorite heading to Brazil.

Odds to win the men’s 100 meter dash at the Rio Olympics

Usain Bolt (Jamaica): 1/2

It’s been eight years since Bolt wowed the world in Beijing, destroying the Olympic record with a 9.69 time; he bettered that performance in London (2012), registering a 9.63 time in the final while getting his second Olympic gold.

Bolt has stated that the Rio games will be his last, and that he’s ready to step down and retire. However, I’m pretty sure he plans to leave on top. And while other men may have posted faster times this year (including American Trayvon Bromell and Jimmy Vicaut of France in addition to Gatlin), he’s still incredibly hard to beat head-to-head.

Justin Gatlin (USA) 7/4:

Before Bolt dominated the last two Olympics, Justin Gatlin won gold in 2004. Gatlin is 34 years old, which is five years older than Bolt and ancient in the world of sprinting, but somehow he remains at the top of his game. As mentioned, he’s posted the world’s fastest time for three straight years, and he put up a personal-best 9.74 last season. That’s the fastest any man has run since 2012.

The American has been suspended for doping violations twice in his career, leading many to question whether he should be allowed to compete. But that hasn’t stopped Gatlin from playing the part of provocateur pre-Rio: Gatlin said he felt it was a joke that Bolt got a spot on the Jamaican team without running in the country’s Olympic trials. Those words didn’t sit well with Bolt, who replied:  “I’ve proven myself year on year that I’m the greatest. I laughed when I heard it, I was disappointed, especially in Justin Gatlin.”

A little smack-talk never hurt anyone, did it?

Yohan Blake (Jamaica): 12/1

Yohan Blake will become Jamaica’s big sprinting hope when Bolt retires. He finished second in the 2012 games and his personal best of 9.69 is (tied for) the fastest time ever by someone not named Usain Bolt. With his countryman out of the Jamaican trials, Blake took the national title, running a 9.95. His best days may already be past him, though, as he failed to run sub-ten seconds in both 2014 and 2015. He has a decent shot to medal, but the gold is probably out of reach for the 26-year-old.

The Field:

Trayvon Bromell (USA): 12/1

Jimmy Vicaut (France): 16/1

Andre de Grasse (Canada): 20/1

Akani Simbine (South Africa): 33/1

(Photo Credit: drcliffordchoi (Flickr) [https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/])