Paris Olympics 2024 Betting: BMX Beth the Team GB star on Thursday & 10/1 walking punt

• China can dominate Women's 20km Race Walk

• Improving Ikeda can beat Europeans in Men's 20km Race Walk

• Injured Beth Shriever begins defence of Olympic BMX title

• Hugo Gonzales (8/19.00) is the best bet in the pool

• Use Betfair's Safer Gambling during the Paris 2024 Olympics

Wait on BMX GB Star Shriever

Beth Shriever (GREAT BRITAIN) (5/16.00) begins the defence of her Olympic title in BMX racing. She has remained the dominant force in the sport since that gold in Tokyo, but fractured her collarbone at the World Championships in May, and is therefore vulnerable.

This might be an event to adopt a watching brief in, then. If Shriever qualifies well, she is a better rider than Saya Sakakibara (AUSTRALIA) (15/82.88) and Alise Willoghby (USA) (11/53.20).

China to dominate Women's Walk

Kicking off the athletics at Paris 2024, the market for the Women's 20km Race Walk has a lopsided feel to it, because although reigning Olympic Champion Antonella Palmisano (ITALY) (5/23.50) is favourite to retain her title, her win at Tokyo 2020 was a surprise, and given there are athletes in the field with personal bests two to three minutes superior to Palmisano, she's probably one to avoid.

Likewise Jemima Montag (AUSTRALIA) (9/25.50). A silver at the World Championships and win at the Commonwealth Games is unlikely to be enough by way of form to win this.

Instead, focus east, where China could easily achieve a clean sweep of medals. Separating their trio will be difficult, but slight preference is for Ma Zhenxia (CHINA) (10/111.00), who won their trials in Taicang in February. She can beat World Champion Jiayu Yang (CHINA) (10/111.00) and legend of the sport Liu Hong (CHINA) (18/119.00), the 37-year-old previous Olympic Champion and four-time World Champion.

Improving Ikeda is vale in Men's Walk

Not dissimilarly to the women's event, the market for the Men's 20km Race Walk seems to overvalue the chances of European competitors. Alvaro Martin (SPAIN) (11/82.38) is double World and European Champion and undoubtedly has claims, but those are short given the rapid improvement of Koki Ikeda (JAPAN) (4/15.00). Second at Tokyo 2020 and second at the 2022 World Championships, Ikeda has since gone on to set the third-fastest time in history in Kobe in February and can win this.

Odds-on treble the play in the pool?

Four gold medals will be decided in the pool on Thursday, three of which have a predictable look to them. Australia (1/401.03) would need to swim in pyjamas to lose the 4 x 200m, World and Olympic Champion Tatjana Smith (SOUTH AFRICA) (4/91.44) should retain her title in the 200m Breaststroke, and 17-year-old double World Champion Summer McIntosh (CANADA) (4/91.44) is likely to win an event that is not as densely packed with talent as others on the Olympic programme. Those who like their multiples can profit from a treble here.

The most interesting race in the pool on Thursday, though, will be for the Men's 200m Backstroke. Ryan Murphy (USA) (7/52.40) lost his World Championship title to Hubert Kos (HUNGARY) (13/82.63) in 2023, and all the focus is on this head-to-head.

The reality, though, is that several in this field could take the gold, and preference is for the rapidly improving Hugo Gonzales (SPAIN) (8/19.00), who set the second-fastest time of the year in the Spanish trials in June.

Now read more Paris 2024 Olympics tips and previews here.