The Blue Riband event of the 2021 Olympics on the weekend is going to be the Women’s 100m Final.
Britain’s Dina Asher-Smith is a medal contender in the fixture but may need to pull something special out of the bag.
The Women’s 100m Final is going to be stacked this year, with all of the big players arriving in top form.
Women’s 100m Final Olympics Betting Odds
Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce 10/11
Elaine Thompson-Herah 7/4
Marie-Josee Ta Lou 5/1
Dina Asher-Smith 10/1
Shericka Jackson 25/1
Blessing Okagbare 50/1
Bar 150/1
* (odds taken 21:12 GMT on July 30th 2021 at Bet365)
Incredible Fraser-Pryce looks for the third title
Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce won the Olympic gold in 2008 and 2012 and earlier this year ran the second ever fastest time.
Only American legend Florence Griffith-Joyner has posted a quicker time than Fraser-Pryce, just to further put that into perspective.
She looks to be in the shape of her life at the moment after having taken a couple of years off to have her son. It’s been some return for the Olympic and World champion.
But she has been beaten this year. Britain’s Dina Asher-Smith beat her in Gateshead in May.
But Fraser-Pryce is the current 10/11 odds-on favourite* (odds taken 21:12 GMT on July 30th 2021 at Bet365)
Thompson-Herah poses a massive threat
Fraser-Pryce’s Jamaican compatriot Elaine Thompson-Herah also looks to be in the form of her life at the moment.
She is one of three in Saturday’s potential field who have gone under 10.8 seconds (Shericka Jackson, Fraser-Pryce).
Thompson-Herah is the reigning 100m Olympic champion, part of a sprint double that she picked up at the 2016 Olympics.
She was highly impressive in her opening heat and earlier this year she beat Fraser-Pryce in Hungary. She was just 0.01 away from her personal best.
Elaine Thompson-Herah poses a massive threat and may just be peaking at the right time.
Key Facts – 10 Fastest Times in 2021
- 10.63 Shelly-Ann Fraser Pryce
- 10.71 Elaine Thomspon-Herah
- 10.72 Sha’Carri Richardson
- 10.78 Marie-Josee Ta Lou
- 10.87 Natasha Morrison
- 10.89 Twanisha Terry
- 10.89 Blessing Okagbare
- 10.91 Aleia Hobbs
- 10.91 Dina Asher-Smith
Marie-Josee Ta Lou
Ivory Coast’s Marie-Josee Ta Lou has run the fight-fastest time this season and is a quote of 5/1 in Olympic betting to win the 100m* (odds taken 21:12 GMT on July 30th 2021 at Bet365).
That time of 10.78 was set in Friday’s heats as she looked sharp and bang in form as well. That just throws another major name into the mix.
At Rio 2016 Marie-Josee Ta Lou took a fourth-place finish in the 100m and the 200m.
At the 2109 World Championships, she finished third behind Fraser-Pryce and Asher-Smith
Can Dina deliver for Team GB?
Arguably the biggest star in Team GB’s track and field squad, Dina Asher-Smith has long been a genuine Olympic medal contender.
But a top-three finish in the 100m is not going to be an easy thing, not for any of the runners here actually as it’s so competitive.
Asher-Smith has beaten Fraser-Pryce this season as mentioned and so it can be done. Can Asher-Smith put it all together on the weekend?
But she hasn’t been below 10.91 and that’s slower times than five of the other main contenders who are likely to be in Saturday’s 100m final.
Asher-Smith is a quote of 10/1 to win the gold* (odds taken 21:12 GMT on July 30th 2021 at Bet365)
One of the greatest ever 100m Finals to come?
Along with Britain’s Dina Asher-Smith, the fastest woman in British history and reigning European champion, this 100m Final field could go deep.
There’s the two-time Olympic champion Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, reigning Olympic champion Elaine Thompson-Herah, Shericka Jackson (who has the fourth-fastest time this year), Maria-Josee Ta Lou and Blessing Okagbare in there.
It’s just about as wide-open as it gets.
Interestingly this year though, as things have been so competitive, there hasn’t been one dominant performer.
It’s all been kind of swings and roundabouts between all of them.
This is all without the breakout star of 2021, Sha’Carri Richardson of the USA who is currently suspended.
Our pick for Olympic betting is Elaine Thomspon-Herah at 7/4* (odds taken 21:12 GMT on July 30th 2021 at Bet365).
Her season has just been coming to a perfect boil at the right time and she looks as if she can go faster.
Interestingly Asher-Smith will meet her in the first semi-final and that will help to give a good indication of where the Brit is at.
Fraser-Pryce’s 10.63 earlier this year was so special, but she will likely need something close to that again and that’s no guarantee.
As for rounding out the top three, that could come down to the very fine margins between Marie-Josee Ta Lou and Asher-Smith.
