SPRINT Netflix stars are preparing to make headlines at the 2024 Paris Olympics. [Image: Shutterstock.com]

SPRINT takes the Paris Olympics

The stars of the hit Netflix show SPRINT are less than two weeks away from ditching their acting careers and competing at the Paris Olympics.

SPRINT was the sixth-most-watched showed this year

The show, which amassed 2.4 million viewers in a week following its July 2 launch, followed star athletes around before and during the 2023 World Championships in Budapest. Track and field rarely steps into the spotlight in America, yet SPRINT was the sixth-most-watched showed this year.

With many casual fans having a deeper understanding and increased level of interest in the sport, the stakes are even higher than usual for the fastest competitors in the world.

Stars ready for the spotlight

SPRINT had a tangible impact on the lives of athletes it featured, which included:

• Noah Lyles
• Sha’Carri Richardson
• Shericka Jackson
• Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce
• Elaine-Thompson Herah
• Gabby Thomas
• Marcell Jacobs
• Zharnel Hughes
• Fred Kerley
• Ferdinand Omanyala

Stars such as Richardson, Lyles, Thomas, and Jackson gained five or six digits in social media followers shortly after the show’s release. It also made track and field much more of a talking point than it had been in years past.

sportsbooks are reportedly preparing for a substantial increase in betting activity

The track and field faithful have even more reason to be optimistic regarding the sport’s outlook thanks to the influence of sports betting. Sportsbooks are reportedly preparing for a substantial increase in betting activity once the Olympics begin and have already published betting lines for most track and field events. 

So with the clock ticking down on the final preparations, here’s how the betting odds think the stars of SPRINT will perform at the Paris Olympics.

Paris Olympics odds for SPRINT Stars 

Noah Lyles (USA)

Lyles was the star of SPRINT. He won the Gold medal in the 100 and 200 at the final event of the show, the world championships, and did the same at the U.S. Olympic Trials in June.

Lyles is a -270 favorite in his favored event, the 200-meter dash, ahead of Keneth Beednarek (+650) and Letsile Tebogo (+650), per FanDuel sportsbook. He fell to second in odds in the 100 meter (+155) behind Kishane Thompson (+105) after the Jamaican ran a world-leading 9.77 at his national championship.

The six-time World Champion is also expected to be the anchor leg of the men’s 4x100m, which does not have odds.

Sha’Carri Richardson (USA)

Richardson is a -170 favorite to win the 100m, giving her a 63% implied chance. Her closest competition is expected to be Shericka Jackson (+500), Julien Alfred (+500), and Shelly-Ann Frayser-Pryce (+1400).

The LSU product finished fourth in the 200 meter at the Olympic trials, meaning she did not qualify for the race at the Olympics. She, like Lyles, is expected to be a prominent member in the women’s 4x100m.

Gabby Thomas (USA)

Thomas is the odds-on favorite to win the 200m despite her not winning an individual Gold at the Olympics or World Championships. Her 21.78 from the Olympic trials is the fastest time in the world this year, giving her the perceived edge over Shericka Jackson (+165), McKenzie Long (+600), and a slew of other competitors.

The 27-year-old finished fifth in the 100 meter at the Trials and will not compete in the event in Paris. She won Gold as a member of the 4×100 at the World Championships and is expected to return to the relay.

Sericka Jackson (Jamaica)

Jackson has the second-fastest 200m and fifth-fastest 100m in the history of the world. She ran both times last year and is still well in her prime at 29 years old.

The Jamaican star is second in odds for both of her usual events, checking in at +165 in the 200m and +500 in the 100m. She only managed Gold in the 4×100 at the last Olympics, but took first in the 2023 World Championships 200. 

Jackson will almost inevitably be on the Jamaican 4×100 team.

Lamont Marcell Jacobs (Italy)

As shown in SPRINT, Jacobs has struggled with a variety of injuries and is a major question mark heading into the Paris Olympics. The burly Italian won Gold in Tokyo with a time of 9.80, but is yet to break 9.92 this season, ranking him 10th in the world.

Jacobs is sixth in odds to win the 100m at (+2300), giving him a 4.2% implied chance. 

Kishane Thompson (+105), Noah Lyles (+155), Oblique Seville (+650), Letsile Tebogo (+1000), and Fred Kerley (+1800) all have better odds. 

Jacobs will not compete in the 200m, but should be on an Italian 4×100 squad that claimed Gold in Tokyo and Silver at the 2023 World Championships.

Zharnel Hughes (Great Britain) 

Hughes will compete in both the 100m and 200m in Paris. He is a large underdog in both, with odds of +3200 (11th) in the 100m and +3400 (sixth) in the 200m.

Despite being portrayed as a top competitor for Lyles, Hughes is just 15th in the 200 and 89th in the 100 based on this year’s times. He also does not have an Olympic medal, but did claim bronze in the 100m at the 2023 World Championships.

Hughes will likely anchor a British 4×100 team that was disqualified in Tokyo.