Xin Xin May Be Worth A Bet In The Open Water 10K Swim

Open water swimming in Rio 2016 may well be one of the most hazardous events given the lamentable water pollution but can Xin Xin overcome China's past performances and the conditions on the day to grab a gold medal?

The Olympic swimming has produced some fabulous performances, from Michael Phelps ongoing effort so he can own enough gold medals to play checkers with them, to the dominating efforts of Hosszu Katinka it has been a cavalcade of excellence, but whilst the United States streaks ahead in the pool-based medals table outside in the open-water the Chinese hopes rest on Xin Xin in the Women's 10Km Marathon, an event they are not known for doing particular well in, but can she win it?

Xin Xin
Nationality – Chinese
Age – 19
Sport – Swimming (10km)

The open-water marathon has only been part of the games since Beijing 2008 and the Chinese have no fared well in the event with Xin Xin leaving it very late to qualify even for Rio 2016 after the disappointment of none of the Chinese team making the grade in the lead up to London 2012. This time round things are different, certainly they left qualifying late, but that doesn't mean they're not peaking at just the right time and those into skirting Chinese gambling laws may well want to back Xin to win.

Can Xin Xin Change China's Open Water Fortunes?

Xin Xin, aged just 19, comes from Shandong and caused ripples in the swimming world in 2012 by producing a performance that qualified her for the trip to London at just 15 in the second ranked time in the world, but unfortunately couldn't translate that into a performance at the games themselves a massive 18 seconds slower than she had been just earlier that year. It may well have been that result that prompted her to make the decision to swap from swimming in pools to the open water outside.

Women's 10km Swim In Rio

• Aurelie Muller - 33/10
• Sharonvan Rouwendaal - 5/1
• Rachele Bruni - 6/1
• Poliana Okimot Cintra - 7/1
• Xin Xin - 7/1

China has never excelled at open-water swimming if the truth be known, and any Chinese gambling news of open-water swimming victories would come thick and fast once Xin Xin, whose talent is undeniable, made the change would have been very disappointed with that failure to appear in London, however since then things have begun looking up and when the chips were down in Portugal earlier this year the Chinese pulled off a blinder to win not just the women's but men's marathon events.

Bet365 Give Xin Xin Just 7/1 To Win Gold In Rio

Of course Xin Xin will have to overcome some exceedingly strong opposition in Rio 2016 if she wants one of those precious medals but whilst her fellow swimmers will be giving her a run for her money it'll be the conditions that might have the most effect on the day. There have been event delays due to rough water in the sailing and one of the Kayakers supposedly struck a semi-submerged sofa and capsized, in what can only be described as water so toxic even people in Flint Michigan would blanch.

Xin Xin gets 7/1 to take the gold on Monday, with Aurelie Muller the clear favorite at 33/10, Sharon Van Rouwendaal gets 5/1 with Rachele Bruni at 6/1 and Poliana Okimoto Cintra on 7/1 with Xin. Keri-Anne Payne and Anna Marcela Cunha, both experienced swimmers, are garnering 8/1 and beyond that its a bit of a crap shoot. Xin Xin may not grab the gold this games, but she could well snatch a medal and if you like to bet on sports in China this could be a great little Olympic earner for your bankroll.