2024 Olympic Games: Kipchoge, Kipyegon tipped to win gold medals

As the focus slowly shifts towards the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, Kenya's top stars have been tipped to win gold medals in the July-August showpiece.

Eliud Kipchoge, who is looking to win three Olympic titles, has been tipped to conquer the marathon duel. Kipchoge's bet comes even though he recently finished 10th in the Tokyo Marathon.

Athletics Weekly had predicted a gold medal for Kelvin Kiptum, but the marathon record holder died in February, thereby boosting Kipchoge's chance to claim gold.

Men's marathon prediction: 1 Eliud Kipchoge (KEN) 2:03:50; 2 Benson Kipruto (KEN) 2:03:54; 3 Sisay Lemma (ETH) 2:03:59; 4 Deresa Geleta (ETH) 2:04:10; 5 Bashir Abdi (BEL) 2:04:17; 6 Alexander Mutiso (KEN) 2:04:20; 7 Talele Bikila (ETH) 2:04:26; 8 Morhad Amdouni (FRA) 2:04:33.

In the women's race, Ethiopia has been tipped to win gold and silver in a field where Kenya will be represented by Hellen Obiri, Ruth Chepng'etich, and Rosemary Wanjiru.

Obiri's historical win at the Boston Marathon on April 15 is, however, expected to boost her odds at the Olympics.

Women's marathon prediction: 1 Tigist Assefa (ETH) 2:16:46; 2 Tigist Ketema (ETH) 2:16:55; 3 Amane Beriso Shankule (ETH) 2:17:25; 4 Hellen Obiri (KEN) 2:17:46; 5 Ruth Chepngetich (KEN) 2:17:59; 6 Rosemary Wanjiru (KEN) 2:18:10; 7 Honami Maeda (JPN) 2:19:10; 8 Fiona O’Keefe (USA) 2:21:45.

In the men's 800m race, Emmanuel Wanyonyi and Marco Arop of Canada are tipped to engage in a tough showdown, as was the case during the World Athletics Championship in Budapest in August last year.

Men's 800m prediction: 1 Marco Arop (CAN) 1:42.82; 2 Emmanuel Wanyonyi (KEN) 1:42.86; 3 Bryce Hoppel (USA) 1:43.11; 4 Emmanuel Korir (KEN) 1:43.56; 5 Djamel Sedjati (ALG) 1:43.75; 6 Wycliffe Kinyamel (KEN) 1:43.86; 7 Ben Pattison (GBR) 1:43.99; 8 Azeddine Habz (FRA) 1:44.11.

In the women's competition, going by recent timings in different events, Kenya's Mary Moraa is tipped for third place even though she shone in Budapest.

Athing Mu was third in Budapest but posted a 1:54.97 American record in the Diamond League final. She expects a tough challenge from Moraa, a world champion, multiple silver medallist and European champion, Keely Hodgkinson.

Women's 800m prediction: 1 Athing Mu (USA) 1:54.56; 2 Keely Hodgkinson (GBR) 1:54.99; 3 Mary Moraa (KEN) 1:55.32; 4 Tsige Duguma (ETH) 1:55.65; 5 Jemma Reekie GBR 1:55.90; 6 Raevyn Rogers (USA) 1:56.81; 7 Natoya Goule-Toppin (JAM) 1:57.05; 8 Halimah Nakaayi (UGA) 1:57.34.

In both 1500m and 5000m, Faith Kipyegon is expected to star. She had a sensational season in 2023 that included gold medals in Budapest and new records in the Diamond League.

Women's 1500m prediction: 1 Faith Kipyegon (KEN) 3:51.03; 2 Freweyni Hailu (ETH) 3:51.99; 3 Birke Haylom (ETH) 3:52.45; 4 Diribe Welteji (ETH) 3:52.65; 5 Elle St Pierre (USA) 3:54.11; 6 Laura Muir GBR 3:54.65; 7 Ciara Mageean IRL 3:55.12; 8 Katie Snowden GBR 3:56.45.

Kipyegon is expected to go for a double in the Olympics, but Gudaf Tsegay, Sifan Hassan, Beatrice Chebet, and Letesenbet Gidey are her most likely challengers in the 5000m.

Women's 5000m prediction: 1 Faith Kipyegon (KEN) 14:09.65; 2 Gudaf Tsegay (ETH) 14:09.98; 3 Sifan Hassan (NED) 14:10.34; 4 Beatrice Chebet (KEN) 14:10.65; 5 Letsenbet Gidey (ETH) 14:11.25; 6 Alicia Monson (USA) 14:17.56; 7 Jessica Hull (AUS) 14:20.65; 8 Parker Valby (USA) 14:23.45.

Uganda's Joshua Cheptegei, who is a triple world champion, is tipped for gold in the 10,000m. However, his recent defeat in the Tokyo Marathon slashes those odds by a considerable margin.

Men's 10,000m prediction: 1 Joshua Cheptegei (UGA) 27:11.03; 2 Jacob Kiplimo (UGA) 27:11.23; 3 Selemon Barega (ETH) 27:11.65; 4 Berihu Aregawi (ETH) 27:11.96; 5 Daniel Ebenyo (KEN) 27:12.44; 6 Grant Fisher (USA) 27:12.67; 7 Woody Kincaid (USA) 27:13.45; 8 Yismaw Dilu (ETH) 27:14.55.