Swimming at the 2020 Summer Olympics – Men's 200 metre backstroke

The men's 200 metre backstroke event at the 2020 Summer Olympics was held from 28 to 30 July 2021 at the Tokyo Aquatics Centre. There will be approximately 30 competitors from approximately 20 nations, with the ultimate numbers determined through the ongoing selection process, including universality places.

Background
This was the 16th appearance of the 200 metre backstroke event. It was first held in 1900. The event did not return until 1964; since then, it has been on the programme at every Summer Games. From 1904 to 1960, a men's 100 metre backstroke was held instead. In 1964, only the 200 metres was held. Beginning in 1968 and ever since, both the 100 and 200 metre versions have been held.

Of the 2016 finalists, defending Olympic champion Ryan Murphy returned, along with bronze medalist Evgeny Rylov of Russia (competing under the ROC banner), fourth-place finisher Xu Jiayu of China, seventh-place finisher Christian Diener of Germany, and eighth-place finisher (and 2012 silver medalist) Ryosuke Irie of Japan. Rylov had won the 2017 and 2019 World Championships with Murphy finishing second both times.

Summary
After his win in the shorter backstroke event days earlier, ROC's Evgeny Rylov set an Olympic record of 1:53.27 to take gold and complete the backstroke double. While he led wire-to-wire after the first lap, Rylov extended his margin over the field to become the first non-American to win this event in six Olympics. The U.S.' defending champion Ryan Murphy trailed Great Britain's Luke Greenbank at the 50 m mark, but moved through the field to collect silver in 1:54.15 - almost a second behind Rylov. Meanwhile, Greenbank could not maintain his margin over Murphy after the first turn, taking bronze in 1:54.72.

The U.S.' Bryce Mefford could not join his teammate Murphy on the podium, falling to fourth place to 1:55.49. Hungary's Ádám Telegdy touched in 1:56.15, edging out Poland's Radosław Kawęcki (1:56.39) by 0.24 seconds. Competing at his fourth Olympics, Japanese backstroke stalwart and 2012 silver medallist Ryosuke Irie (1:57.32) came seventh while Spain's Nicolás García (1:59.06) rounded out the field.

Qualification
The Olympic Qualifying Time for the event was 1:57.50. Up to two swimmers per National Olympic Committee (NOC) could automatically qualify by swimming that time at an approved qualification event. The Olympic Selection Time was 2:01.03. Up to one swimmer per NOC meeting that time was eligible for selection, allocated by world ranking until the maximum quota for all swimming events was reached. NOCs without a male swimmer qualified in any event could also use their universality place.

Competition format
The competition consisted of three rounds: heats, semifinals, and a final. The swimmers with the best 16 times in the heats advanced to the semifinals. The swimmers with the best 8 times in the semifinals advanced to the final. Swim-offs were used as necessary to break ties for advancement to the next round.

Records
Prior to this competition, the existing world and Olympic records were as follows.

The following records was established during the competition:

Schedule
All times are Japan Standard Time (UTC+9)

Heats
The swimmers with the top 16 times, regardless of heat, advance to the semifinals.

Semifinals
The swimmers with the best 8 times, regardless of heat, advanced to the final.