In five Summer Olympic Games since 1996 the United States has finished with more gold medals and overall medals than the rest of the world four times. The USA will try to keep that excellence going this summer in the 2016 Olympic Games.
Olympic odds 2016: United States favored to lead Rio Summer Olympics in gold medals
The United States are heavily favored to win the most gold medals in the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio over China, Great Britain, and Russia.
Rob Schumacher-USA TODAY Sports
The United States are a -600 betting favorite to finish atop the table with the most gold medals at sportsbooks monitored by OddsShark.com. China (+325 to win the most gold medals), Great Britain (+2000) and Russia (+5000) are the top contenders to dethrone the Americans.
The total on the United States' overall medal count is set at 103.5 (Over -105, Under -125) on the Rio Olympics odds, while the country's gold medal total is set at 42.5 (Over +100, Under -130). Over the last four Summer Olympics, the USA has eclipsed 103.5 total medals only once with 110 in 2008, and they eclipsed 42.5 gold medals once over that same span with 46 in 2012.
World class sprinter Usain Bolt has stated that the 2016 Summer Olympics will be his last. Bolt captivated the world with world-record times in the 100 meter, 200 meter, and 4x100 meter relay to sweep golds in 2008, and went on to sweep golds in all three events again in 2012. Bolt’s primary competition in 2016 will be American sprinter Justin Gatlin.
Usain Bolt is a -200 favorite to win the 100 meter event, a -300 favorite to win the 200 meter event, and a -200 favorite to win relay gold with Jamaica. Justin Gatlin would pay +165 on a 100 meter upset, +325 to win the 200 meter, and +185 with a USA relay win.
Another international superstar making his final Olympics appearance will be Michael Phelps. The American swimmer is the most decorated Olympic athlete of all time with 18 gold medals and 22 total medals overall.
Phelps is going off at +100 to win gold in the 100 meter butterfly event over South Africa's Chad Le Clos (+200), Hungary's Laszlo Cseh (+350) and Singapore's Joseph Schooling (+1000). In the 200 meter individual medley, Phelps is a -110 favorite over fellow countryman Ryan Lochte (+200) and Japan's Kosuke Hagino (+300).
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