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- Germany’s Oliver Zeidler (+125) is favored over Simon Van Dorp (+175) of the Netherlands in men’s single sculls
- Karen Florijn (-300) of the Netherlands is heavy chalk for the gold medal in the women’s event
- Men’s and women’s rowing events will take place at Vaires-sur-Marne Nautical Stadium in Paris, France from July 27 to August 3, 2024
Rowing has been part of the Olympics every year since debuting at the 1900 Paris Games. Now over a century later, there are seven different rowing competitions for both men and women.
Today, we’ll examine the odds for the single sculls event, where each rower uses two oars, one in each hand, to travel over 2,000 meters. Before examining the board, check out our tips for Betting on the 2024 Paris Olympics and get all our Olympic Betting Picks.
Men’s Single Sculls
| Athlete (country) |  |  |  |
| Oliver Zeidler (GER) | +125 | +125 | +125 |
| Simon Van Dorp (NED) | +175 | +175 | +175 |
| Stefanos Ntouskos (GRE) | +500 | +500 | +500 |
| Thomas Mackintosh (NZL) | +600 | +600 | +600 |
| Yauheni Zalaty (AIN) | +2000 | +2000 | +2000 |
| Sverri Nielsen (DEN) | +2800 | +2800 | +2800 |
| Damir Martin (CRO) | +5000 | +5000 | +5000 |
| Ryuta Arakawa (JPN) | +6600 | +6600 | +6600 |
| Giedrius Bieliauskas (LTU) | +8000 | +8000 | +8000 |
| Mihai Chiruta (ROU) | +8000 | +8000 | +8000 |
Zeidler or van Dorp?
Oliver Zeidler (+125) is the reigning world champion in the men’s single sculls. The 27-year-old German is in a class of his own, winning his first World Rowing Championship in 2019 and defending his title in 2022 and 2023.
Zeidler took gold at the 2024 European Championships in Szeged, Hungary and claimed World Cup I in Varese by nearly three seconds over Simon van Dorp (+175). However, the Dutch rower enacted revenge at World Cup II in Lucerne, Switzerland, passing Zeidler in the last 100m to take gold.
No medal for home favourite Oliver Zeidler in the final of the Men’s Single Sculls. Instead, Netherlands’ Melvin Twellaar takes gold in front of Olympic Champion Stefanos Ntouskos of Greece and Kristian Vasilev of Bulgaria. What a showdown!#europeanrowing #rowing #backtotheroofs pic.twitter.com/GSRWJOYmKv
— World Rowing (@WorldRowing) August 14, 2022
Battle for 3rd place
Stefanos Ntouskos (+500) of Greece and Thomas Mackintosh (+600) of New Zealand will likely battle for bronze, given the dominance of Zeidler and van Dorp. Similarly, 3rd place is the best possible outcome for Yauheni Zalaty (+2000), Sverri Nielsen (+2800) and Damir Martin (+5000).
Women’s Single Sculls
| Athlete (country) | | | |
| Karolien Florijn (NED) | -300 | -300 | -300 |
| Emma Twigg (NZL) | +550 | +550 | +550 |
| Tara Rigney (AUS) | +700 | +700 | +700 |
| Kara Kohler (USA) | +1600 | +1600 | +1600 |
| Tatsiana Klimovich (NIA) | +2000 | +2000 | +2000 |
| Alexandra Foster (GER) | +2800 | +2800 | +2800 |
| Jovana Arsic (SRB) | +4000 | +4000 | +4000 |
| Viktorija Senkute (LTU) | +4000 | +4000 | +4000 |
| Desislava Angelova (BUL) | +5000 | +5000 | +5000 |
| Magdalena Lobnig (AUT) | +8000 | +8000 | +8000 |
Florijn favored heavily
Karolien Florijn (-300) repeated as world champion in Belgrade in 2023. The Dutch sculler also dominated at World Cup I, finishing six seconds ahead of her closest competitor. World Cup II was much closer with Florijn defeating Tara Rigney (+700) of Australia by just over a second. Rigney won gold in Poznan, Poland with her rival not in the field.
Rowing in the Netherlands is often a family tradition. Just ask Karolien and Finn Florijn, or Rik and Ralf Rienks, children of Ronald Florijn and Nico Rienks respectively, Olympic Champions in 1988. pic.twitter.com/GKLRp1Qfzo
— World Rowing (@WorldRowing) November 29, 2023
Defending Olympic champion
Emma Twigg (+550) took home the gold medal for New Zealand in 2021 and is making her fifth appearance at the Olympics. After placing fourth at the 2012 and 2016 Games, the now 37-year-old finally broke through in Tokyo.
Twigg finished about two seconds behind Florijn at World Cup II, so going out of the sport on top might prove too tall a task.
Best Longshot
Tara Rigney (+700) has enticing odds considering she placed a close second to Florijn at the 2023 World Championships and at World Cup II in Switzerland. A bronze medalist at the last two world championships, Rigney is the best bet to topple the Dutch sculler.
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