TRACK AND FIELD
Men’s 100-meter dash
Jamaican Usain Bolt set 100, 200 and 4×100 world records in Beijing, then bettered the former two marks in the next year’s World Championship. But young Yohan Blake beat him in both events at the Jamaican Olympic Trials, with Tyson Gay and Brooklyn-born Justin Gatlin threats as well.
GOLD: Yohan Blake (Jamaica)
SILVER: Usain Bolt (Jamaica)
BRONZE: Justin Gatlin (USA)
Men’s 800
People aren’t asking if David Rudisha will win, but by how much? At 1-8 odds according to Ladbrokes, he’s the biggest favorite in the entire meet, and coach Julius Kirwa says the 23-year-old world champion can break his own 1:41.01 world record next month in Zurich.
GOLD: David Rudisha (Kenya)
SILVER: Mohammad Aman (Ethiopia)
BRONZE: Nijel Amos (Botswana)
Men’s 110 hurdles
This is a classic showdown. China’s Liu Xiang has a world title, 2004 Olympic gold and a world record (12.87). But Aries Merritt beat him in Istanbul to win this winter’s world indoor 60-meter hurdles title, then ran a world-leading 12.93 to win the U.S. Olympic Trials.
GOLD: Aries Merritt (USA)
SILVER: Liu Xiang (China)
BRONZE: Jason Richardson (USA)
Women’s 4×100 relay
This is arguably the closest of all the track events, with Ladbrokes having both the U.S. and Jamaica at 10-11. For added drama, after Felix and Jeneba Tarmoh were a dead heat in the U.S. Olympic Trials 100-meter for the last spot — and the latter pulled out of a scheduled tie-breaking run-off — now they will be relay teammates trying to earn gold together. #KumBaya!
GOLD: U.S. & Jamaica dead-heat. Runoff anyone?
SILVER: Fantu Magiso (Ethiopia)
BRONZE: Trinidad & Tobago
Women’s 800
South African Caster Semenya used to dominate the 800, but her masculine look and testosterone levels caused a flap in 2009, and now IAAF rules force women to maintain testosterone levels that don’t exceed the male threshold. After having hormone therapy, she’s slowed and The Post picks her to finish fourth.
GOLD: Pamela Jelimo (Kenya)
SILVER: Fantu Magiso (Ethiopia)
BRONZE: Mariya Savinova (Russia)
SOCCER
Men’s Soccer
Brazil has been the most successful of all countries on the World Cup stage, but they’ve shockingly never won the Olympics. Their 2-0 shellacking of England in an Olympic warmup last week says they could change all that, although Spain could certainly win with a gifted bunch of youngsters itching to break into the world’s No. 1 team.
GOLD: Brazil
SILVER: Spain
BRONZE: Uruguay
Women’s Soccer
Japan came from behind twice to upset the U.S. in the 2011 World Cup final in penalty kicks. The U.S. drilled Japan in their next meeting, but Brazil — led by superstar Marta — and Sweden are both very viable medal threats as well.
GOLD: U.S.
SILVER: Brazil
BRONZE: Japan
GYMNASTICS
Remember Kerri Strug and her pixied powerhouse Olympic squad? That was the first — and last — time USA won the team gold in women’s gymnastics, back in 1996. The gold drought may be over. Jordyn Wieber, 17, and Gabby Douglas, 16, form a wonderful tandem that threatens to topple China, Russia and Romania. Wieber’s technical grace and brilliance and Douglas’ bubbling enthusiasm are ready to steal hearts in London.
Women’s team
GOLD: USA
SILVER: China
BRONZE: Romania
Women’s individual all-around
GOLD: Jordyn Wieber (USA)
SILVER: Viktoria Komova (Russia)
BRONZE: Gabby Douglas (USA)
Women’s vault
GOLD: McKayla Maroney (USA)
SILVER: Oksana Chusovitina (Germany)
BRONZE: Sandra Izbasa (Romania)
Women’s uneven bars
GOLD: Viktoria Komova (Russia)
SILVER: Huang Qiushuang (China)
BRONZE: Gabby Douglas (USA)
Women’s balance beam
GOLD: Sui Lu (China)
SILVER: Larisa Iordache (Romania)
BRONZE: Catalina Ponor (Romania)
Women’s floor exercise
GOLD: Lauren Mitchell (Australia)
SILVER: Larisa Iordache (Romania)
BRONZE: Aly Raisman (USA)
Men’s team
GOLD: China
SILVER: Japan
BRONZE: USA
SWIMMING
Men’s 400-meter individual medley relay
Sure there will be other swimmers in the pool, but all that really matters is the competition between Michael Phelps and Ryan Lochte, the two biggest U.S. stars. The event takes place tomorrow and is the first event of the Games for both swimmers. Lochte beat Phelps in the event at the Olympic trials a month ago, though Phelps finished a close second. Adding to the intrigue is the fact Phelps said he was finished competing in this event after winning the gold in Beijing four years ago because it was too grueling. But at the trials, he added it and will swim it in London.
GOLD: Michael Phelps (USA)
SILVER: Ryan Lotche (USA)
BRONZE: Kosuke Hagino (Japan)
Men’s 100-meter breaststroke
Brendan Hansen from the U.S. has dedicated the last four years of his life to not only winning the gold in this event, but finally beating his bitter rival, Japan’s Kosuke Kitajima, who beat him in the 2004 and 2008 Games. Soon after the ’08 Games, Hansen retired from the sport only to return in search of redemption.
GOLD: Kosuke Kitajima (Japan)
SILVER: Daniel Gyurta (Hungary)
BRONZE: Brendan Hansen (USA)
Men’s 400-meter freestyle relay
There is tension between the U.S. side and the Aussies, who have dubbed themselves the “Weapons of Mass Destruction.’’ The Aussies’ brashness has rubbed the Americans the wrong way, leading Michael Phelps to say, “We take care of our own business. We’re not going to run our mouths. Our country has never done that.’’
GOLD: Australia
SILVER: U.S.
BRONZE: Russia
Men’s 50-meter freestyle
Because it’s an all-out sprint, this is always the most exciting event in swimming. But also because U.S. swimmer Anthony Ervin, who won the event at the trials, is making a comeback after 10 years away from the sport. As a 19-year old Cal student, Ervin won a gold medal in the 2000 Olympics and left the sport. Now, at age 31, Ervin is trying to win gold again.
GOLD: James Magnussen (Australia)
SILVER: Cullen Jones (USA)
BRONZE: Cesar Cielo (Brazil)
Women’s 200-meter freestyle and 100-meter backstroke
These are two of the seven events that 17-year-old Missy Franklin from the U.S. will compete in and they both take place on the same day. She was able to win them both at the trials with less than 30 minutes rest.
Women’s 200 freestyle
GOLD: Allison Schmitt (USA)
SILVER: Sarah Sjostrom (Sweden)
BRONZE: Missy Franklin (USA)
Women’s 100-meter backstroke
GOLD: Missy Franklin (USA)
SILVER: Anastasia Zueva (Russia)
BRONZE: Zhao Jing (China)
Women’s 400-meter freestyle relay
This will feature two ends of the spectrum for the Americans. It will be the only event of the week for veteran Natalie Coughlin and for 17-year old Lia Neal from Brooklyn.
GOLD: USA
SILVER: Australia
BRONZE: China
BASKETBALL
Women’s basketball
The U.S. women’s team is so dominant, it is a greater favorite than even the men’s powerhouse. The great Candace Parker, Sue Bird, Swin Cash, Diana Taurasi highlight the star-studded roster and hopefully they’ll take in some London tourist attractions to make their trip across the pond interesting. The only question is who gets silver and bronze after UConn’s Geno Auriemma leads the American women to their fifth straight gold.
GOLD: USA
SILVER: Australia
BRONZE: Russia
Men’s basketball
Not even a spate of injuries to its top big men and backcourt behemoths has made Team USA vulnerable. It is hard to imagine a squad led by LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Chris Paul — whose backup is Deron Williams — can be beaten. Spain’s size and Argentina’s teamwork will not be enough to prevent a second straight gold — unless Larry Brown and Stephon Marbury somehow resurface in London. Time is ripe for the 23-and-under event in 2016.
GOLD: USA
SILVER: Spain
BRONZE: Argentina
TENNIS
The Olympic tennis competition gets an extra cache, the Wimbledon grounds playing host just two weeks after Roger Federer and Serena Williams ruled the grasscourts. The Post is picking against a repeat, however. Novak Djokovic is too good to keep down and Serena should experience London hangover. Mixed doubles has also been added but mixed teams won’t be declared until Tuesday.
Women’s Singles
GOLD: Maria Sharapova (Russia)
SILVER: Petra Kvitova (Czech Republic)
BRONZE: Serena Williams (USA)
Men’s singles
GOLD: Novak Djokovic (Serbia)
SILVER: Andy Murray (Great Britain)
BRONZE: Roger Federer (Switzerland)
Men’s Doubles
GOLD: Bob and Mike Bryan (USA)
SILVER: Federer and Stanislas Wawrinka (Switzerland)
BRONZE: Janko Tipsarevic and Nenad Zimonjic (Serbia)
Women’s Doubles
GOLD: Venus/Serena Williams (USA)
SILVER: Lisa Raymond/Liezel Huber (USA)
BRONZE: Sara Errani/Roberta Vinci (Italy)
Mixed Doubles
GOLD: Mike Bryan/Lisa Raymond (USA)
SILVER: Bob Bryan/Liezel Huber (USA)
BRONZE: Max Mirnyi and Victoria Azarenka (Belarus)
Women’s 200
After Allyson Felix (left) finished second the past two Olympics to Veronica Campbell-Brown, she may finally be a favorite to win gold over her Jamaican rival. But Sanya Richards-Ross — the wife of ex-Giant Aaron Ross — had the world’s fastest time until Felix’ Olympic Trials win.
GOLD: Allyson Felix (USA)
SILVER: Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce (Jamaica)
BRONZE: Campbell-Brown (Jamaica)
BOXING
Ukraine looks to field the strongest team and should come away with the most medals in the competition. The team is led by 24-year-old lightweight Vasyl Lomachenko, who will be seeking his second Olympic gold medal after standing on the top podium at the 2008 Games. He was also a world champion in 2011 and 2009. Women’s boxing will be featured in the Olympics for the first time.
Men’s Flyweight division
GOLD: Andrew Selby (Great Britain)
SILVER: Rau’shee Warren (USA)
BRONZE: Misha Aloya (Russia)
Men’s Light heavyweight
GOLD: Julio Cesar De La Cruz (Cuba)
SILVER: Adilbek Niyazymbetov (Kazahkstan)
BRONZE: Marcus Browne (USA)
Women’s Flyweight
GOLD: Marlen Esparza (USA)
SILVER: Nicola Adams (England)
BRONZE: Ren Cancan (China)
