Farah and Bolt to go out with a bang?
The World Athletic Championships get underway in London on Friday (August 4) and, with two track legends set to retire after the end of the season, it could be a momentous nine days.
Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt and British distance legend Mo Farah are both expected go out with a bang when they bid farewell to the sports they've dominated for several years: Bolt is 4/11 to win the 100m and Farah is the same price to triumph in the 10,000m. And it's no wonder, when you consider that Bolt and Farah have 28 Olympic and World titles between them.
To increase the betting options, Betfair are offering specials markets on both athletes.
Bolt is 20/1 to set a new 100m world record, which would really would mean he's going out at the top, while you can get 8/11 on Farah pulling off a 5000/10,000m gold medal double. That was, of course, exactly what he achieved in the London 2012 Olympics, almost five years ago to the day. If you really think, the Brit can revisit his glory days then back him at 100/1 to set a new world record in either of those events.
Other ones to watch
As two stars depart others must come along to take their place. In Wayde van Niekerk South Africa might have just the man. He set a new world record in the men's 400m in Rio last summer and is 9/1 to triumph here. His compatriot, Luvo Manyonga, is another major talent and 3/10 to win gold in the men's long jump.
Another South African, Caster Semenya, is expected to dominate the women's 800m where she's 2/15. Great things are expect of the American Kendra Harrison who's 2/9 to win the women's 100m hurdles.
British medal hopes
Apart from Farah, Britain's best medal hopes could be in the women's events where, in the 1500m and 5,000m, Laura Muir is 9/1 and 15/2 respectively to win gold. Katarina Johnson-Thompson is another Brit to look out for in the heptathlon. Sophie Hitchon, meanwhile, might be 100/1 to win gold in the hammer but she could yet be among the medal, especially as she caused an upset by winning bronze at the Rio Olympics last summer.