*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change
Swimming is one of the most recognisable sports at the Olympics. For most of us we won’t take any interest in competitive swimming until the summer Games, when the sport suddenly takes on major significance.
Out of nowhere we become experts in each stroke, learn the names of the dominant athletes and some of us even join our local pool after being inspired to give the sport a try.
New to Paddy Power?
For those who bet on the Olympics, swimming can be a dream sport. That’s because swimming rarely goes against the odds – and that means you can place hefty bets on the favourites with reasonable expectation that your bets will pay out.
So, who should you be looking out for when betting on swimming this summer? Here, Paddy Power present four athletes to keep an eye on…
Adam Peaty – Great Britain & Northern Ireland
Men’s 100m breaststroke
No man has ever swam the breaststroke as fast as Adam Peaty – and perhaps no man ever will. The Brit has been crushing his own world record for years and is unlikely to walk away from Tokyo with anything but gold this summer. His closest competitor – Netherlands’ Arno Kamminga – is 7/1 to win gold.
Katie Ledecky faces a battle for Olympics swimming golds in Tokyo (GETTY)
Katie Ledecky – USA
Women’s 1500m and 800m freestyle
A battle of two superstars is about to commence at the Olympics this summer. America’s Katie Ledecky is the firm favourite to win the 1500m and 800m freestyle events, while Australian Ariarne Titmus leads the betting for the 200m and 400m freestyle races.
Let’s focus on Ledecky. The 24-year-old won 800m gold at the Olympics back in 2012, demolished the field at the 2015 World Championships, reigned supreme at Rio 2016 and twice successfully defended her 800m World Championship title since.
Ledecky’s dominance has waned in recent years but she is still on course to win gold here. The 800m freestyle is her ultimate event.
Ariarne Titmus – Australia
Women’s 200m and 400m freestyle
Titmus is within striking distance of Ledecky in the 1500m and 800m but is tipped to claim silver in these events. Instead, the 20-year-old is on course to emerge victorious in the short freestyle races: the 200m and 400m.
Where Ledecky has longevity, Titmus has speed. She is a powerful sprint swimmer and looks good for both the 200m and 400m in an acca.
Caeleb Dressel – USA
Men’s 100m butterfly, 50m and 100m freestyle
The US is searching for a new multi-gold winning swimmer and Caeleb Dressel could just be that. The Floridian won gold in the 4x100m freestyle relay in 2016 and has since gone on to dominate both freestyle and butterfly events.
Heading into the Olympics this summer he is the heavy favourite to win the 100m butterfly and 50m freestyle. His one downfall could be the 100m freestyle, where Romania’s David Popovici and Kyle Chalmers of Australia make up a competitive field. Can Dressel claim all three individual golds?
You can get these three selections straight into your Paddy Power betslip by CLICKING HERE TO PLACE THE BET.
Olympics betting guides
- Olympics tips: Paddy’s complete guide to betting on the Games
- Olympics tips: Paddy Power’s guide to the 5 new sports in 2021
- Olympics tips: Great Britain and Northern Ireland’s 5 best gold medal hopes
- Olympics tips: Ireland’s 2 best medal hopes at the 2021 Games
- Olympics tips: How to bet on medal table when USA will likely win
- Olympics tips: Best bets for 2021 football tournament at Tokyo Games
- Olympics tips: 5 rowing best bets for Tokyo 2020 Games
- Olympics tips: 3 athletics best bets for track and field action at Tokyo 2020
The Paddy Power Guide To Responsible Gambling – Everything You Need To Know
