Every four years, people who couldn’t care less about obscure sports suddenly become die-hard fans, all in the name of national pride. And you know what? I’m here for it. The Paris 2024 Olympic Games are a welcome addition to a summer sports calendar that would otherwise be boring. Not to mention, it’s a chance to show the world that Canada’s impressive showing at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo was not a fluke.
Canada finished 11th in total medals (24) in Tokyo, continuing a trend of strong performances since 1992. For Paris 2024, Nielsen’s Gracenote virtual medal table forecast predicts Canada will finish 12th with 20 medals, including six golds in events like the hammer throw and 200m butterfly. However, this article will focus on some of the intriguing longshots in judo, fencing, and swimming from a betting perspective.
Judo (Men’s 100kg)
| Judoka |  | Judoka | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ilia Sulamanidze (Georgia) | +200 | Aaron Wolf (Japan) | +225 |
| Nikoloz Sherazadishivili (Georgia) | +500 | Zelym Kotsoiev (Azerbaijan) | +550 |
| Muzaffarbrek Turoboyev (Uzbekistan) | +650 | Shady Elnahas (Canada) | +1000 |
Canada’s judo team is highlighted by world No. 1 Christa Deguchi, a two-time world champion and the top favourite for gold in the women’s 63kg event. In the men’s 100 kg category, Shady Elnahas emerges as an intriguing longshot. At 26 years old, Elnahas, currently ranked third in his weight class, has made notable strides in his career. His significant achievement came with a silver medal at the 2024 World Championships, underscoring his potential and positioning him as a strong contender for Paris 2024.
The men’s 100kg division is exceptionally competitive, with Ilia Sulamanidze of Georgia as the leading favourite. Sulamanidze, born in 2001, has rapidly established himself as a top judoka. He won gold at the 2022 Judo Grand Slam in Tel Aviv and has been a dominant force in the weight class. Elnahas will also face formidable competition from Aaron Wolf of Japan, who won the gold medal at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics and currently holds the second-best odds for Paris 2024.
Despite the high level of competition, Elnahas enters the Olympics with +1000 odds for a gold medal, reflecting both his potential and the challenging field. With a strong track record, Elnahas stands out as a compelling longshot for Canadian judo enthusiasts.
Shady Elnahas To Win Gold In Men’s 100kg Judo
Swimming (Women’s 100m Butterfly)
| Runner | | Runner | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gretchen Walsh (USA) | -167 | Torri Huske (USA) | +225 |
| Yufei Zhang (China) | +700 | Angelina Kohler (Germany) | +900 |
| Maggie Mac Neil (Canada) | +1200 | Emma McKeon (Australia) | +1400 |
Maggie Mac Neil burst onto the international scene at the 2019 World Aquatic Championships with a surprising gold medal in the women’s 100m butterfly. She defeated the then four-time World and reigning Olympic champion, Sarah Sjöström, signalling the start of a remarkable career.
Mac Neil continued her success at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, where she won three medals, including gold in the 100m butterfly. Her dominance in the event persisted as she clinched silver in the 100m butterfly at the World Aquatic Championships last year. Notably, Mac Neil tied the record for the most gold medals by a Canadian at the Championships, with a total of four.
At +1200 odds, Mac Neil is in the mix to win gold with the sixth-best odds, but the handicap is quite different this time around. After all, Sjöström was the undisputed leader heading into the 2020 Olympics, holding the world record in the 100m butterfly, but her reign was ended by the then 21-year-old Mac Neil. Now, at 24, Mac Neil faces fresh competition from a new generation of swimmers, including 21-year-old Gretchen Walsh, who recently set a new world record in the event. Walsh is a -167 favourite in the event.
Fencing (Women’s Team Foil)
The women’s foil event in fencing requires competitors to score points by hitting their opponent’s torso with the tip of the blade. Known for its agility and strategic depth, foil differs from épée and sabre by its lighter weapon and the right-of-way rule.
Heading into the Paris 2024 Olympics, Canada’s women’s foil team presents an intriguing longshot. Ranked sixth in the world, they exceeded expectations in 2020 and continue to perform strongly.
The team includes talented athletes such as Jessica Guo, the reigning NCAA champion who captured gold in individual women’s foil at the 2024 FIE Junior World Championships and earned bronze at World Cups in Novi Sad and Paris.
Guo, a first-year pre-med student at Harvard, is joined by two-time Olympian Eleanor Harvey, who achieved Canada’s best-ever Olympic result in individual fencing at Rio 2016. Sixteen-year-old Yunjia Zhang, set for her Olympic debut, impressed at the Junior World Championships. Additionally, reserve Sabrina Fang, a recent silver medalist at the Santiago 2023 Pan American Games, adds depth to the team.
With this impressive roster, Canada’s women’s foil team could be a surprising contender in Paris, and their +2199 odds make them an attractive betting option.
