The Summer Olympics are nearly here and all of Canada is watching with anticipation. During the 2020 Tokyo Games, the Canadians racked up 24 total medals to finish 11th overall in the Games. They’ll hope to improve on that number at this year’s Paris Games but the oddsmakers don’t see them reaching it.
| 🍁 Prediction: Total OVER 21.5 @ 1.75 |
Going into the 2024 Summer Games, the number has been set by betting companies: 21.5 medals. Will Team Canada be able to top that bet and match its third-best mark ever behind only the Tokyo Games and the 1984 Los Angeles Games where it won 44 medals?
Strengths For Canada In The 2024 Games
Going into the Games, there are a few notable strengths for the Canadians. They will also be the backbone of the team’s efforts there and will dictate how likely a successful event will be.
Sprinting. By the end of the 2024 Summer Games, Andre De Grasse could become the most decorated Canadian Olympian ever. He has medaled in every single event so far in two Games, winning Gold in Tokyo in the 200m event.
With six medals, he’s just one behind swimmer Penny Oleksiak for the most by a Canadian at the summer games. The latter may not participate due to lingering injuries, which could set De Grasse up to capture the top spot with two or more medal performances.
Swimming. One of the brightest futures among Canadian athletes is swimmer Summer McIntosh. Though she is still just 17 years old, she has been a burgeoning star since finishing 4th in the 400m freestyle in Tokyo.
In 2023, she set Canadian and world junior records virtually every time she got in the pool. McIntosh will have her hands full against the legendary Katie Ledecky, but she has a real chance to become the first Canadian to win two golds in a non-boycotted Olympics since 1912.
Hammer Throw. Canada has become a powerhouse in the hammer throw, thanks in large part to Ethan Katzberg and Camryn Rogers. The latter is the reigning world champion and took silver in the 2022 world championships.
Katzberg is the men’s reigning world champion, and holds the men’s record for Canada. Both should be among the favourites to win gold this summer.
Total Medals Prediction: Over 21.5
With the strengths laying the foundation, Canada could surprise in other areas. The basketball team looks fantastic and could reach the podium for the first time since the 1936 Games.
It will be close but look for Canada to beat the 21.5 over/under mark. Even just getting to 22 total medals would be a major achievement and one of the best in the history of Canadian Olympic performances but it seems possible this year.
Golds in swimming, sprinting, and the hammer, plus a podium from the basketball team, would make it one of the most successful Summer Games in the history of the country for sure.