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 will be 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 is expected to return, as are 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 have won the 2017 and 2019 World Championships with Murphy finishing second both  times. Qualification. The Olympic Qualifying Time for the event is 1:57.50. Up to two swimmers per National Olympic Committee (NOC) can automatically qualify by swimming that time at an approved qualification event. The Olympic Selection Time is 2:01.03. Up to one swimmer per NOC meeting that time is eligible for selection, allocated by world ranking until the maximum quota for all swimming events is reached. NOCs without a male swimmer qualified in any event can also use their universality place. Competition format. The competition consists of three rounds: heats, semifinals, and a final. The swimmers with the best 16 times  in the heats advance to the semifinals. The swimmers with the best 8 times in the semifinals advance to the final. Swim-offs are 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: Results. 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. Swimming at the 2020 Summer Olympics – Men's 200 metre backstroke