3 minute read
The Olympic Games in Paris are almost here and there are high hopes for the Australia team as they target a record medal haul.
Australia performed well in Tokyo in 2021 when winning 46 medals and they will be out to surpass that tally in Paris.
But how many of them will be of the gold variety? They won 16 gold medals in Tokyo and it would be a huge achievement if they can get near to that total again.
As things stand Australia are 1.83 to win over 13.5 gold medals and the same price to win under 13.5.
Let's take a look at Australia's chances of reaching the 13.5 target.
The pool will be key
Australia always take a strong swim squad to the Olympic Games and Paris 2024 will be no different.
The swimming pool will be key to Australia's chances of winning 13.5 plus gold medals. Most of Australia's gold medal hopes are swimmers.
Kaylee McKeown will also be in the hunt for three individual gold medals in Paris.
She will be looking to add to the gold medals she won in the 100m and 200m backstroke in Tokyo by getting the job done once again.
Not only that, there is a chance of her taking gold in the 200m individual medley.
Meanwhile, Mollie O'Callaghan and is in with a great chance of taking gold in the 100m and 200m freestyle.
The 20-year-old currently holds the women's 100m and 200m freestyle world record, is expected to star in Paris.
Ariarne Titmus is in with a great shout of winning gold in the 400m freestyle, while the same applies to Cameron McEvoy in the men's 50m freestyle.
The relay teams will also be crucial to Australia's chances of winning gold medals.
The women look very strong in the 4x100m freestyle, 4x200m freestyle and 4x100m medley, while gold is also a possibility in the 4x100m mixed medley.
Other gold medal hopes
Moving away from swimming and Jess Fox is regarded as the best female canoe slalom athlete in history and looks set to dominate once again in Paris.
She won gold in Tokyo in the canoe single (C1) and is the hot fancy to retain that title in Paris.
Not only that, Fox will be targeting her first gold medal in the kayak single (K1) event.
Logan Martin made history when becoming the first man to win Olympic gold in the BMX freestyle in Tokyo.
Martin has confessed to being highly-motivated to win back-to-back gold medals, but admits it will be a 'massive challenge'. Even so, he is the hot fancy to strike gold once again.
And finally, Australia have two genuine chances of winning gold in the women's high jump, with Nicola Olyslagers and Eleanor Patterson set to go head-to-head.
Olyslagers won the silver medal at Tokyo in 2021, while Patterson won the world championship title in 2022.
There is a great chance of one them winning gold in Paris and helping Australia achieve 13+ gold medals in Paris.