Online Bookmakers Fear Swimmer Could Win Eight Gold Medals
Online sportsbook has record setting American down as favourite in five Beijing events.
Thursday 7th August 2008
The Games of the XXIX Olympiad are set to begin tomorrow in Beijing and American swimmer Michael Phelps could depart China having won eight gold medals.
Baltimore native Phelps is arguably the best swimmer in the world and won eight medals four years ago in Atens, six of which were gold. This feat tied a record for medals at a single Olympics that had been held by Soviet gymnast Alexander Dityatin since the boycotted 1980 games.
Malta-based Sportsbook.com has installed Phelps as the favourite with almost unbeatable odds of 1/2500 to win a Gold Medal in the 200 metre freestyle event taking place on Tuesday. In addition, the 23-year-old is the favourite to win in the 100 metre butterfly on August 16 alongside the preferred competitor in the 200 metre butterfly on August 13. He is also the favourite to win Gold in 200 metre individual medley on August 15 and the 400 metre individual medley on Sunday. Phelps is also set to compete in the 400 metre freestyle relay team event on Monday and the 800 metre freestyle relay on August 13. His final event at the Olympics will be the 400 metre medley relay on August 17.
Australian Eamon Sullivan and Frenchman Alain Bernard are listed by Sportsbook.com as co-favourites to win the Men’s 100 metre freestyle while Grant Hackett of Australia is the favourite to win Gold in the Men’s 1,500 metre Freestyle and American Aaron Peirsol is the odds favourite to win the Men’s 200 metre Backstroke.
