Shericka Jackson is the two-time defending world champion in the women’s 200 meters. However, she’s coming to the Paris Olympics as a betting underdog. The Jamaican sprinter is set as the second betting choice to win the gold medal in the event at odds of +200.
It’s Gabby Thomas of the United States who oddsmakers are establishing as the +105 betting favorite. Thomas won the bronze medal in this event at the Tokyo Summer Games in 2021. She’s the only returning medalist entered in this year’s Olympic 200 meters.
If you’re planning to bet the Olympic women’s 200 meters final it’s best to chart the heats leading up to the final round. You’ll want to ensure that none of the contenders are upset, or suffer a pulled hamstring or some other injury that might keep them out of the final.
Prior to wagering you’ll also want to be checking in on these Vegas betting site bonuses. Don’t forget that all of the top Vegas betting sites are offering downloadable apps that make it easy for you to place your bets from your mobile device.
Which sprinters should you be targeting for wagers in the Olympic women’s 200 meters? Are there any underdogs capable of pulling off an upset in the race? First, let’s check out the latest odds for the 200 meter dash.
| 200 meters |  |  |  |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gabby Thomas (USA) | +105 | +100 | +120 |
| Shericka Jackson (JAM) | +200 | +165 | +200 |
| Julien Alfred (LCA) | +350 | +400 | +500 |
| McKenzie Long (USA) | +650 | +800 | +700 |
| Dina Asher-Smith (GBR) | +1400 | +1000 | +1200 |
| Brittany Brown (USA) | +1500 | +2500 | +1500 |
| Marie Josee Ta Lou (CIV) | +5000 | +6600 | +3300 |
| Mujinga Kambundji (SUI) | +7500 | +6600 | +6600 |
| Daryll Neita (GBR) | +8000 | +6600 | +50000 |
| Lanae-Tava Thomas (JAM) | +15000 | +10000 | +50000 |
| Niesha Burgher (JAM) | +15000 | +15000 | +15000 |
| Audrey Leduc (CAN) | +20000 | +25000 | +80000 |
| Favour Ofili (NGR) | +25000 | +25000 | +25000 |
Turning in a dominating performance in the US Olympic trials, Thomas set the stage to set herself up as the favorite to win this race. In what was anticipated to be a showdown between Thomas and Olympic women’s 100-meter favorite Sha’Carri Richardson, Thomas turned it into no contest.
Thomas blew away the field to win in a time of 21.81 seconds. Meanwhile, Richardson finished up the track, failing to qualify for the 200 meters by fractions of a second. In the semifinals, Thomas ran a blazing 21.78 seconds. That’s the fastest time for the 200 meters this year.
Last year, Thomas ran a 21.60-second race. That was the fourth-fastest women’s 200 meters ever run.
Jamaican sprinter Jackson had originally qualified to run in both the 100 and 200 meters. However, she’s since announced that she will be foregoing the 100 to focus entirely on running her speciality, the 200.
It’s been a difficult season for the two-time world champion at this distsance. Jackson pulled up in a race in Hungary in July. That’s left the status of her health in question heading into the Summer Games. Her best time this year for the 200 is a pedestrian 22.29 seconds.
It was just about a year ago that Jackson ran a 21.41-second 200, the second-fastest race ever run by a woman at that distance. The Jamaican still carries the No. 1 position in the world rankings. She’s a three-time Diamond League final winner and a four-time world champion.
Jackson is also a five-time Olympic medalist. That includes one gold medal. Interestingly, she’s never won an Olympic medal at this distance.
At Bovada, they are offering a separate prop wager on this race. You can bet on whether or not runners will finish in the medals for the women’s 200 meters.
For instance, Thomas is the odds-on favorite to finish among the top three in the race at odds of -1000. You can get a much better price on Jackson in this betting market at a betting line of -300.
If you want to play a bit of a longer shot. Marie-Josee Ta Lou of the Ivory Coast is at +500. She finished fifth in the Tokyo Olympic Games 200 meters final in a time of 22.27.
Are the Jamaicans playing it coy with Jackson, or is she still hurting? That’s the question everyone wants answered.
Since she won’t be running in the 100 meters, no one will get a real gauge of the status of the world’s top-ranked 200-meter runner until she competes in the heats for the 200.
On the other hand, all systems seem to be go for Thomas. She’s been on top of her game of late and looks to be peaking at the right time. She appears to be the best bet, and the best price you’ll find on Thomas right now to win the Olympic women’s 200 meters gold medal is +120 at BetUS.
