Olympic Speedskating 2018: Updated Odds and Predictions

Many American fans who tune into the Winter Olympics on television have a difficult time relating to events like the biathlon, luge and cross-country skiing events because they are simply not familiar with them, and they have a strange and unfamiliar look.

That is not the case with speedskating, which has a similar look to running events that take place on a running track.

While short-track speedskating appears somewhat like roller derby because of all the bumping that may occur while skaters position themselves, speedskaters on a long track depend on speed, balance, tactics and endurance to win their races. 

Contact is not an issue.

Speedskating is a traditional winter Olympic event, and while European countries tend to dominate these events, Americans have had many brilliant moments in this sport. Eric Heiden dominated the 1980 Winter Olympic speedskating events, and he probably would have been the top story to emerge from the Lake Placid, New York, event if the U.S. hockey team had not performed in such a historic manner.

On the women's side, Bonnie Blair won gold medals in speedskating in 1988, 1992 and 1994 and became a legend in the process.

Men and women compete at distances of 500 meters, 1,000 meters, 1,500 meters, 5,000 meters, 10,000 meters, team pursuit and mass start

Americans are not likely to come away with many medals in Pyeongchang, South Korea, but they have a few elite-level skaters.

The American women have a better chance of reaching the podium in more events than the men. Brittany Bowe and Heather Richardson-Bergsma both have a chance to medal in the 500-meter sprint.

Bowe is the plus-900 third choice, while Richardson-Bergsma is the plus-1600 fourth choice to win the event, according to OddsShark.

Nao Kodaira of Japan is the heavy favorite to win the event at minus-350, while Lee Sang-hwa of Korea is the second choice at plus-450. (A wager on Kodaira would require the bettor to risk $350 to win $100, while a $100 wager on Sang-hwa would return a profit of $450 if she wins the gold medal.)

Here is the list of the top 10 favorites to win the women's 500-meter sprint, per OddsShark (ties included):

• Nao Kodaira (JPN) -350
• Lee Sang-hwa (KOR) +450
• Brittany Bowe (USA) +900
• Heather Richardson-Bergsma (USA) +1600
• Arisa Go (JPN) +2000
• Vanessa Herzog-Bittner (AUT) +2500
• Angelina Golikova (OAR) +3300
• Marsha Hudey (CAN) +3300
• Zhang Hong (CHN) +3300
• Jorien Ter Mors (NED) +4000
• Yu Jing (CHN) +4000

John Locher/Associated Press

Joey Mantia appears to be the top American skater on the men's side, and he has an outside chance of getting close to medal contention in the 1,000-meter race.

Mantia is plus-2500 to win the race, and that makes him the eighth-best choice to win the event. Kjeld Nuis of the Netherlands is the top choice to win the gold at plus-210, followed by countryman Kai Verbij and Denis Yuskov of the Olympic Athletes from Russia.

Here is the list of the top 10 favorites to win the men's 1,000-meter race, per OddsShark (ties included):

• Kjeld Nuis (NED) +210
• Kai Verbij (NED) +300
• Denis Yuskov (OAR) +350
• Havard Holmefjord Lorentzen (NOR) +500
• Koen Verweij (NED) +900
• Vincent De Haître (CAN) +1600
• Aleksey Yesin (OAR) +2000
• Joey Mantia (USA) +2500
• Mo Tae-Bum (KOR) +2500
• Alexandre St-Jean (CAN) +3300
• Mika Poutala (FIN) +3300

The women's 1,500-meter race will be contested in predawn hours Monday.

Miho Takaji of Japan is a strong minus-110 favorite to bring home the gold, while Richardson-Bergsma is the second choice at plus-400 along with Ireen Wust of the Netherlands. Bowe also has a chance to hit the medal stand in this event.

Here is the list of the top 10 favorites to win the women's 1,500-meter race, per OddsShark (ties included):

• Miho Takagi (JPN) -110
• Heather Richardson-Bergsma (USA) +400
• Ireen Wust (NED) +400
• Marrit Leenstra (NED) +900
• Lotte van Beek (NED) +900
• Brittany Bowe (USA) +1400
• Yekaterina Shikhova (OAR) +1400
• Martina Sablikova (CZE) +5000
• Ayaka Kikuchi (JPN) +6600
• Gabriele Hirschbichler (GER) +6600
• Ida Njatun (NOR) +6600
• Ivanie Blondin (CAN) +6600
• Natalia Voronina (OAR) +6600

Predictions

Kodaira is the best skater in the field in the women's 500, and we see her winning the event rather easily. Sang-hwa will give the home fans in Pyeongchang something to cheer about by earning the silver, while Bowe will give the United States the bronze medal.

The Netherlands should take the gold and silver medals in the men's 1,000 meters with Nuis and Verbij in the top two spots, respectively. Mo Tae-Bum of Korea will earn the bronze medal.

Takagi appears to be a solid choice for gold in the women's 1,500-meter race, while Richardson-Bergsma will give her a challenge and take the silver. Ayaka Kikuchi of Japan has the best chance to come away with the bronze and join her countrywoman on the medal stand.