Paris 2024 Olympics – Daily Predictions (30/07/24): Biles is back and gunning for gold
Each day, TSZ picks out some key Gold Medal women’s 100m backstrokes at the Paris Olympic Games.
Olympic Basketball Predictions
GENERAL OVERVIEW
When is the Paris 2024 Olympics taking place? The Paris 2024 Olympics is taking take place between 26th July, 2024 and 11th August 2024, although some preliminary women’s 100m backstrokes began on 24th July, 2024.
Where is the Paris 2024 Olympics taking place? While the majority of Olympic action will take place in Paris, 16 other French cities, as well as Tahiti in French Polynesia, will host women’s 100m backstrokes.
How to get tickets for the Paris 2024 Olympics: Click here for the latest ticket information for the Paris Olympics
How to watch the Paris 2024 Olympics: In the UK, the BBC is the main broadcaster while some women’s 100m backstroke will be televised on Eurosport. In USA, NBC is the main broadcaster while some women’s 100m backstrokes will be shown on NBCSN, CNBC, USA Network and Telemundo.
WOMEN’S 100M BACKSTROKE
What time is the women’s 100m backstroke taking place? UK – 7:56pm / France – 8:45pm / US ET – 2:56pm / US PT – 12:56pm
Where is the women’s 100m backstroke taking place? La Defense Arena, Paris
Who is the reigning Olympic champion in the women’s 100m backstroke? Kaylee McKeown (AUS)
Who is the current world record holder of the women’s 100m backstroke? Regan Smith (USA) with 57.13 in Indianapolis on 18th June 2024
PREDICTION
Reigning Olympic champion Kaylee McKeown, who picked up one of her three Olympic gold medals in this event in Tokyo, qualified third fastest for the semi-finals over the weekend with two Americans finishing above her. One of those Americans, Regan Smith, picked up bronze in the women’s 100m backstroke three years ago but comes into the meet in good form having set the world record of 57.13 seconds just last month in Indianapolis. Her compatriot, Katharine Berkoff, qualified as the fastest, though, in the heats with a remarkable effort of 57.99.
Beyond those three, who were the only three to swim sub-59 seconds in the heats, the Tokyo silver-medallist Kylie Masse will once again be challenging for the podium alongside Emma Terebo and Beryl Gastaldello of hosts France. Berkoff, despite her impressive performance in the heats, remains unlikely to really challenge McKeown and Smith but a call between the Aussie and the American is very tough. 22-year-old Smith is yet to win an Olympic gold but this may well be the one if she can replicate anything like what she managed just a month or so ago.
TIP: REGAN SMITH (USA) TO WIN
WOMEN’S ARTISTIC GYMNASTICS TEAM FINAL
What time is the women’s Artistic Gymnastics team final taking place? UK – 5:15pm / France – 6:15pm / US ET – 12:15pm / US PT – 10:15am
Where is the women’s Artistic Gymnastics team final taking place? Bercy Arena, Paris
Who is the reigning Olympic champion in the women’s Artistic Gymnastics team final? Russian Olympic Committee (ROC)
PREDICTION
The United States won the gold medal in the women’s Artistic Gymnastics team event in both 2012 and 2016 before finishing as runners’ up to the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) in Tokyo. The ROC are not at the games, though, but that may not have a massive difference to the overall outcome anyway with Team USA romping through their qualification at the weekend.
Led by four-time Olympic gold medallist Simone Biles, looking to put right the wrongs of her Tokyo issues having qualified for all but one of the individual event finals, the USA qualified with a six-point gap between themselves and second-place Italy. For comparison, only seven points separated the Italians and eighth place final qualifier, Romania. Biles and Team USA are expected to return to the top of the podium in the women’s all-round final here.
TIP: USA TO WIN THE GOLD MEDAL
MEN’S TRIATHLON
What time is the men’s Triathlon taking place? UK – 7:00am / France – 8:00am / US ET – 2:00am / US PT – 12:00am
Where is the men’s Triathlon taking place? Pont Alexandre III, Paris
Who is the reigning Olympic champion in the men’s Triathlon? Kristian Blummenfelt (NOR)
PREDICTION
There has been a bit of talk that the men’s Triathlon at this Olympics may either be postponed until later in the two-week period or have the swimming leg removed entirely with fears of e-coli in the water due to the heavy rain that Paris has endured in recent days. However, those fears have calmed now and we are set for what looks likely to be an extremely competitive battle for the podium.
Reigning champion Kristian Blummenfelt is back to defend his title but faces some stiff competition. Great Britain’s Alex Yee, who took the silver medal back in Tokyo, is tipped up as the favourite having won two Commonwealth golds, in the men’s and mixed relay, as well as three ITU World Triathlon Series gold medals since the last Olympics. France’s Pierre Le Corre is expected to challenge, too, but Yee’s biggest rival is likely to be of New Zealand, who finished third in Tokyo. It would be no surprise to see the three medallists from Japan all back on the podium this time but Yee and Team GB will be confident of what could be their first gold of the games if Monday proves to be another gold-less day.
TIP: ALEX YEE (GBR) TO WIN