Betting tips / Michael Klim / 25 July 2012 / Leave a comment Bet Now View Market

Betfair is proud to have on-board swimming legend Michael Klim who will bring you regular features providing his poolside insight during the 2012 Olympics.

On form, James Magnussen is the Black Caviar of swimming.

Since his rise to prominence he hasn't been beaten and is an obvious selection to take gold in the men's 100m freestyle.

When you look at the speed at which he is travelling against his peers - a bit quicker than two metres per second - he is close to over half a body length ahead of James Roberts then a further half length ahead of Cesar Cielo Filho, making him at least a full body length in front of the rest of the field.

This is on current times and if there's any improvement left in him at all, his current Betfair odds of (1.40) are a luxury.

The media focus on Leisel Jones has been pretty unfair but I wouldn't be taking any less than the current (12.50) she currently sits at in the market. If we were going on her 2008 form it would be a different story.

She went in to that meet fit and firing, but since it looks like this will be the final meet of her career, she would be a lay around her current price.

I don't really take much notice of the talk about her physique. She has swum well with different body shapes in the past so I won't judge her on that - I just judge her on her form coming in and that's where she hasn't been hitting the times and consistency that she usually has in the past.

Rebecca Soni has been swimming a lot quicker than her and Leisel will have to improve a lot on recent performances to feature. Even making the final looks to be a bit of a stretch at the moment.

Another Australian, Leiston Pickett trading @ Betfair odds of (27.0) is one I would be backing ahead of Leisel.

For those searching for some value or a potential trading opportunity, while it's hard to take on Michael Phelps in the 100m fly, one swimmer certain to make a mark at his first Olympics is Aussie Chris Wright.

The Queenslander has swum 51.6 seconds in the lead-ups while Phelps has managed 51 flat. I'm confident he'll make the final, and if he does so in the impressive fashion he's capable of, he'll start a lot shorter in the final than his current Betfair odds of (36.0).

The strength and stretch at the finish of butterfly is a lot like a horse getting a bob in on the line, so if everything goes just right and there is a huge upset, it could just be the Aussie.

Good luck with your bets on the swimming. I look forward to sharing my tips and thoughts with you.