200 metres

The 200 metres, or 200-meter dash, is a sprint running event. On an outdoor 400 metre racetrack, the race begins on the curve and ends on the home straight, so a combination of techniques is needed to successfully run the race. A slightly shorter race, called the stadion and run on a straight track, was the first recorded event at the ancient Olympic Games. The 200 m places more emphasis on speed endurance than shorter sprint distances as athletes predominantly rely on anaerobic energy system during the 200 m sprint. Similarly to other sprint distances, the 200 m begins from the starting blocks. When the sprinters adopt the 'set' position in the blocks they are able to adopt a more efficient starting posture and isometrically preload their muscles. This enables them to stride forwards more powerfully when the race begins and start faster.

In the United States and elsewhere, athletes previously ran the 220-yard dash (201.168 m) instead of the 200 m (218.723 yards), though the distance is now obsolete. The standard adjustment used for the conversion from times recorded over 220 yards to 200 m times is to subtract 0.1 seconds, but other conversion methods exist. Another obsolete version of this race is the 200 metres straight, which was run on tracks that contained such a straight. Initially, when the International Amateur Athletic Association (now known as the International Association of Athletics Federations) started to ratify world records in 1912, only records set on a straight track were eligible for consideration. In 1951, the IAAF started to recognise records set on a curved track. In 1976, the straight record was discarded.

The race attracts runners from other events, primarily the 100 metres, wishing to double up and claim both titles. This feat has been achieved by men eleven times at the Olympic Games: by Archie Hahn in 1904, Ralph Craig in 1912, Percy Williams in 1928, Eddie Tolan in 1932, Jesse Owens in 1936, Bobby Morrow in 1956, Valeriy Borzov in 1972, Carl Lewis in 1984, and most recently by Jamaica's Usain Bolt in 2008, 2012, and 2016. The double has been accomplished by women eight times: by Fanny Blankers-Koen in 1948, Marjorie Jackson in 1952, Betty Cuthbert in 1956, Wilma Rudolph in 1960, Renate Stecher in 1972, Florence Griffith-Joyner in 1988, and Elaine Thompson-Herah in 2016 and 2021. Marion Jones finished first in both races in 2000 but was later disqualified and stripped of her medals after admitting to taking performance-enhancing drugs. An Olympic double of 200 m and 400 m was first achieved by Valerie Brisco-Hooks in 1984, and later by Michael Johnson from the United States and Marie-José Pérec of France both in 1996. Usain Bolt is the only man to repeat as Olympic champion, Bärbel Wöckel (née Eckert), Veronica Campbell-Brown and Elaine Thompson-Herah are the three women who have repeated as Olympic champion.

The men's world record holder is Usain Bolt of Jamaica, who ran 19.19 s at the 2009 World Championships. The women's world record holder is Florence Griffith-Joyner of the United States, who ran 21.34 s at the 1988 Summer Olympics. The reigning Olympic champions are Andre De Grasse (CAN) and Elaine Thompson-Herah (JAM). The reigning World Champions are Noah Lyles (USA) and Shericka Jackson (JAM).

Races run with an aiding wind measured over 2.0 metres per second are not acceptable for record purposes.



Continental records

 * Updated 23 July 2023.

Men (outdoor)

 * Updated June 2024

Assisted marks
Any performance with a following wind of more than 2.0 metres per second is not counted for record purposes. Below is a list of wind-assisted times (equal or superior to 19.70). Only times that are superior to legal bests are shown:
 * Kenny Bednarek ran 19.49 (+6.1 m/s) in Hobbs, New Mexico on 17 May 2019, 19.65 (+4.0 m/s) on 10 April 2021 in Miramar, Florida, and 19.65 (+3.2 m/s) in Lausanne on 26 August 2021.
 * Andre De Grasse ran 19.58 (+2.4 m/s) in Eugene, Oregon on 12 June 2015.
 * Tarsis Orogot ran 19.60 (+2.9 m/s) in Gainesville, Florida on 14 April 2023.
 * Robert Gregory ran 19.60 (+4.8 m/s) in Jacksonville, Florida on 26 May 2023.
 * Leroy Burrell ran 19.61 (+4.1 m/s) in College Station, Texas on 19 May 1990. Until 1 August 1996, it was the best performance in any condition.
 * Terrance Laird ran 19.64 (+5.6 m/s) in Hobbs, New Mexico on 17 May 2019.

Women (outdoor)

 * Updated June 2024

Assisted marks
Any performance with a following wind of more than 2.0 metres per second is not counted for record purposes. Below is a list of wind-assisted times (equal or superior to 21.80). Only times that are superior to legal bests are shown:
 * Sha'Carri Richardson ran 21.61 (+2.6 m/s) in Eugene, Oregon on 8 July 2023.
 * Tamara Clark ran 21.72 (+3.1 m/s) in Austin, Texas on 26 March 2022.
 * Julien Alfred ran 21.73 (+2.5 m/s) in Austin, Texas on 10 June 2023
 * Kimberlyn Duncan ran 21.80 (+3.2 m/s) in Des Moines, Iowa on 23 June 2013.

Men (indoor)

 * Updated February 2024.

Women (indoor)

 * Updated March 2024.

Women

 * undefined Known as the World Indoor Games