Phelps Tipped to Fall Short of Record Tally

The action in the swimming pool is traditionally the main event in the first week of the Olympics, and this year is no different.

Swimming odds
This year much of the focus is on whether American Michael Phelps can break his compatriot Mark Spitz's record of seven gold medals from the 1972 Munich Olympic Games. Phelps is 2/1 at UK bookmaker Ladbrokes to win eight gold medals, but 4/11 to be denied the amazing feat.

Phelps is a hot favorite in almost every race he'll contest. He's 2/5 in the 100m Butterfly, a staggering 1/100 in the 200m Butterfly, 1/7 in the 200m Individual Medley, 1/9 in the 400m Individual Medley and 1/33 in the 200m Freestyle.

Aussie Grant Hackett is 2/1 favorite for the 400m Freestyle, which Phelps will not contest, and 4/6 to win his third consecutive Olympic gold in the 1500m Freestyle.

Such is the dominance of the USA in the men's field that they have been left out of the betting for the 4 x 100 Medley Relay. Australia, traditionally the US's strongest rival in the pool, is the Ladbrokes favorite at 5/4, ahead of Japan at 7/2.

Several competitors are given a strong chance of taking gold medals in the women's swimming, with American and Australian swimmers once again dominating the field.  Australia is 4/7 favorite to take out the 100m Freestyle Relay, ahead of USA, 5/2, and Holland, 5/1.  The rest of the field are given little to no chance.

Team events
The team events will be popular with regular punters because they are mini-tournaments that resemble the longer regular seasons of most large sporting competitions.  Basketball, soccer, field hockey, volleyball, handball and water polo are just some of the team sports being hotly-contested at this year's Olympics.

In the men's basketball, all eyes will be on whether the USA can bounce back from their shock Bronze Medal finish at the 2004 Olympics – only the second time in which they have competed and failed to win gold.   Team USA is 3/10 to rebound with a gold medal, ahead of Spain 9/2, and Greece and defending gold medalists Argentina – who beat the USA at Athens – 12/1.

The USA is favorite to take the women's basketball tournament as well, with Ladbrokes currently offering 2/7 odds.  Australia is 7/2 to exact revenge on the US for defeating them in the final at Athens, while Russia is 10/1.

Olympic Giveaway
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