2018 Winter Olympics: Latest Odds for Top Superstars and Medal Favorites
The 2018 Winter Olympics will attract some of the finest athletes in the world to Pyeongchang, South Korea, over the coming days.
As is always the case, there are a number of star names who will catch the eye more than most, with those in attendance at the multitude of events at the Games keen to see the best showcase their skills.
Read on for a look at a couple of competitors expected to earn gold for their respective nations and the odds on them doing so.
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Most Gold Medals Odds
Norway (3-2)
Germany (8-5)
United States (5-1)
Canada (7-1)
Netherlands (16-1)
Figures courtesy of OddsShark and accurate as of January 31.
Mikaela Shiffrin, Slalom
Although Mikaela Shiffrin could feasibly leave the 2018 Winter Olympics with four gold medals—she's competing in the slalom, the giant slalom, the super G and the downhill—it's in the slalom where she is the heavy favourite to take gold.
She's an 11-50 bet to win that event, having enjoyed a dominant year in preparation for Pyeongchang. Her nearest rival, Switzerland's Wendy Holdener, is available at 15-2.
There are some who might suggest those numbers should be even longer, such is the form Shiffrin continues to showcase. Eurosport UK took a look at her exploits as of late:
Despite being just 22, the Team USA skier knows what's required to get over the line on a big occasion such as this.
In 2014, she became the youngest Olympic alpine skiing champion in history at 18 years, 345 days, when she won the slalom. Success at such an early age doesn't appear to have inhibited her ambition either.
"If I compete in four events, it's because I think I have [a] shot to medal in four events," she said, per Agence France-Presse (h/t France 24)."Five might be biting off too much. Even though I did go on record saying I want five gold medals—I want the world and [to be] the king of the universe and all those things."
Should she win the slalom she would become the first person to secure back-to-back Olympic golds in the event. On the brink of the Games opening, it's tough to see anyone stopping her.
Sven Kramer, Speed Skating
Dutch skating icon Sven Kramer is expected to add to his incredible legacy in South Korea, where he goes off as favourite to win both the 5,000-metre and 10,000-metre events.
Despite it being his stronger event, Kramer has never clinched Olympic gold in the longer discipline. He's a short 1-4 for victory in that event and a 2-5 favourite in the 5,000m.
The Dutchman posted the following snap of some of his preparations for the Games:
The odds are a reflection not only of Kramer's quality but also his experience at this level. He heads to Pyeongchang as a seven-time Olympic medalist, with three of those coming four years ago.
The haul in Sochi included gold in the 5,000 metres—his second in a row—and the team pursuit, as well as a silver in the 10,000. Kramer said it's the latter he wants to win in South Korea, having failed to take victory in it at the Olympics so far.
"Obviously the 10,000 metres is the big one, but I also want to defend my 5,000-metre title, retain the team pursuit title and maybe do the 1,500 metres and mass start races, too," he said, per Olympic.org. "… Coming home with those would be a success. It's an ambitious target, but a realistic one."
Three golds here would make Kramer the most successful speed skater in Olympic history, taking him past the seven golds won by Clas Thunberg and Eric Heiden.
Getting the three prizes may prove to be too much of an ask, but Kramer is a worthy favourite in both of the individual disciplines.
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