Michael Phelps Betting Odds: 2012 London Olympics
by Touthouse.com

A leading bookmaker is offering betting odds on the number of gold medals Michael Phelps wins at this year’s 2012 London Olympics. The favorite is four at +275 (7/4) and you can get +5000 (50/1) that he wins none at all. Only injury early in the competition will prevent him from winning at least one and those who think he can win six gold medals can back Phelps at +600 (6/1) to do just that.

Phelps’s Olympic pedigree is beyond comparison as he has twice equalled the record of eight medals at one Games. He won eight in Athens and Beijing, though he won’t be able to win that amount in London as he is only competing in seven events. However, it wouldn’t be a surprise if he achieved a maximum haul, especially with the United States relay teams being so strong.

Overall Phelps has now won 16 Olympic medals, and all but two have been golds, the exception being two events in Athens eight years ago. His 14 gold medals is an all-time record and his total medals haul is only surpassed by a Soviet gymnast called Larisa Latynina who won 18 in three renewals of the Games.

The US swimmer has won at least two gold medals at each Pan Pacific Championships, World Championships and Olympics going back to 2002. His career total in these major events is 52 gold medals and that is a number unlikely to be beaten in swimming or any other sport for that matter. Phelps is arguably the most dominant competitor in any sport and the latest odds suggest he will be enhancing that reputation in London.

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He has natural swimming talent but was also fortunate to be born with physical attributes that are suited to the sport. His short legs and long feet are perfect for swimming and in that respect his body is similar to that of the great Australian champion, Ian Thorpe. With drug allegations firmly disproved after numerous passed tests Phelps looks set to have another great Olympics and to become the highest medal winner of all time.

The swimmer has decided not to compete in the 200 metres freestyle in London and that move can only enhance his chances in his other disciplines. The seven events Phelps will enter are the 200 and 400 individual medley: the 100 and 200 metres butterfly and the three relays in which he will be part of the US team. The schedule for the swimming events means even Phelps would have found it be difficult in all his events so dropping one race looks like a wise decision.

He is obviously a brilliant all round swimmer who can be successful at the highest level over a number of disciplines. The medley events give him the best chance of winning more Olympic gold medals. The individual medley is one of the most challenging of all swimming events. The swimmer begins the race from a standing start and then swims butterfly, backstroke, breaststroke and freestyle in that order.

Phelps is the second favourite at +150 (6/4) to win the 400 metres individual medley and joint favourite at -183 (5/6) to win the shorter version of the event. Ryan Lochte of the United States is the swimmer most likely to win these events if Phelps falters in any way. He is another exceptional all round swimmer and his physique and skills makes medley events his best option for beating Phelps. In any other generation Lochte would be seen as a great swimmer but for the last eights years he has competed during the Phelps era and he may not be ale to match the achievements of his compatriot at the Olympic Games again.