Olympic Results 2012: Sprinters Who Emerged as Medal Threats

Sprinting isn’t as predictable as it seems.

You would think it’s as simple as picking the fastest man or woman, but 2012 Olympic results tell a different story. Not only does the fastest runner not always win, but underdogs could emerge from the pack as serious contenders in any race.

Here are four sprinters that weren’t projected to find the podium, but after their Round 1 performances, are now major medal threats.

4. Demetrius Pinder (Bahamas, men’s 400-meter)

Men’s 400-meter favorite LaShawn Merritt’s hamstring injury will really open the door for other sprinters to medal. Demetrius Pinder is one of them.

According to BetFair.com, the Bahamian has 51-to-1 odds to win the event. In the quarterfinals, though, he recorded the third fastest time and was 0.01 seconds away from having the second-fastest time.

3. Ryan Bailey (USA, men’s 100-meter)

Bailey was seen as a contender going into the 100-meter dash, but not a serious contender. Usain Bolt, Yohan Blake, Justin Gatlin, Tyson Gay and Asafa Powell were all better bets to medal.

But Bailey outran them all on Saturday. And he tied his personal best of 9.88, recording the fastest time by almost a tenth of a second.

Now, most elite sprinters don’t run 110 percent in the first round to avoid injury because they know they’ll advance anyway. So don’t mistake him for a gold-medal threat. The bronze, though, is up for grabs.

2. Francena McCorory (USA, women’s 400-meter)

McCorory finished with the third-fastest time in the 400 by just 0.03 seconds. According to BWin, she has 100-to-1 odds to win gold. But she nearly outran Russia’s Antonina Krivoshapka, who has the second-best odds to finish first, behind on the U.S.’ Sanya Richards-Ross.

Team USA may just be able to sneak two women on to the podium.

1. Pavel Maslak (Czech Republic, men’s 400-meter)

Perhaps no one benefited more from LaShawn Merritt’s injury than Pavel Maslak.

Maslak finished second in the 400 with a 44.91. Despite his impressive Round 1, he is seen as the sprinter with the eighth-best odds to win gold. BetFair.com pegged him as an 80-to-1 underdog.

While the gold is likely a lock for Grenada’s Kirani James, Maslak now looks like a strong possibility to medal.

David Daniels is a featured columnist at Bleacher Report and a syndicated writer.

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