Athletics 200 metres | |
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Athletes leaving starting blocks for a 200 metres heat at the 2012 Olympic Games | |
World records | |
Men | ![]() |
Women | ![]() |
Olympic records | |
Men | ![]() |
Women | ![]() |
World Championship records | |
Men | ![]() |
Women | ![]() |
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,[1] 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.
Area | Men | Women | ||||||
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Time (s) | Wind (m/s) | Athlete | Nation | Time (s) | Wind (m/s) | Athlete | Nation | |
Africa (records) | 19.68 | +0.4 | Frankie Fredericks | ![]() |
21.81 | +0.8 | Christine Mboma | ![]() |
Asia (records) | 19.88 | +0.9 | Xie Zhenye | ![]() |
22.01 | 0.0 | Li Xuemei | ![]() |
Europe (records) | 19.72[A] | +1.8 | Pietro Mennea | ![]() |
21.63 | +0.2 | Dafne Schippers | ![]() |
North, Central America and Caribbean (records) |
19.19 WR | −0.3 | Usain Bolt | ![]() |
21.34 WR | +1.3 | Florence Griffith-Joyner | ![]() |
Oceania (records) | 20.06[A] | +0.9 | Peter Norman | ![]() |
22.23 | +0.8 | Melinda Gainsford-Taylor | ![]() |
South America (records) | 19.81 | −0.3 | Alonso Edward | ![]() |
22.48 | +1.0 | Ana Cláudia Lemos | ![]() |
Ath.# | Perf.# | Time (s) | Wind (m/s) | Athlete | Nation | Date | Place | Ref. |
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1 | 1 | 19.19 | −0.3 | Usain Bolt | ![]() |
20 AUG 2009 | Berlin | [6] |
2 | 2 | 19.26 | +0.7 | Yohan Blake | ![]() |
16 SEP 2011 | Brussels | [7] |
3 | 19.30 | −0.9 | Bolt #2 | 20 AUG 2008 | Beijing | |||
3 | 4 | 19.31 | +0.4 | Noah Lyles | ![]() |
21 JUL 2022 | Eugene | [8] |
4 | 5 | 19.32 | +0.4 | Michael Johnson | ![]() |
01 AUG 1996 | Atlanta | |
5 | 19.32 | +0.4 | Bolt #3 | 09 AUG 2012 | London | |||
7 | 19.40 | +0.8 | Bolt #4 | 03 SEP 2011 | Daegu | |||
8 | 19.44 | +0.4 | Blake #2 | 09 AUG 2012 | London | |||
9 | 19.46 | +0.8 | Lyles #2 | 10 AUG 2022 | Monaco | [9] | ||
5 | 10 | 19.49 | +1.4 | Erriyon Knighton | ![]() |
30 APR 2022 | Baton Rouge | [10] |
11 | 19.50 | −0.1 | Lyles #3 | 05 JUL 2019 | Lausanne | |||
12 | 19.52 | +1.5 | Lyles #4 | 21 AUG 2021 | Eugene | |||
−0.6 | Lyles #5 | 08 SEP 2022 | Zürich | |||||
6 | 14 | 19.53 | +0.7 | Walter Dix | ![]() |
16 SEP 2011 | Brussels | |
15 | 19.54 | ±0.0 | Blake #3 | 07 SEP 2012 | Brussels | |||
16 | 19.55 | −0.1 | Bolt #5 | 27 AUG 2015 | Beijing | |||
17 | 19.56 | −0.8 | Bolt #6 | 01 MAY 2010 | Kingston | |||
+1.3 | Lyles #6 | 26 AUG 2022 | Lausanne | [11] | ||||
19 | 19.57 | ±0.0 | Bolt #7 | 04 SEP 2009 | Brussels | |||
7 | 19 | 19.57 | +0.4 | Justin Gatlin | ![]() |
28 JUN 2015 | Eugene | [12] |
8 | 21 | 19.58 | +1.3 | Tyson Gay | ![]() |
30 MAY 2009 | New York City | |
21 | 19.58 | +1.4 | Bolt #8 | 23 AUG 2012 | Lausanne | |||
23 | 19.59 | −0.9 | Bolt #9 | 07 JUL 2009 | Lausanne | |||
24 | 19.61 | +1.3 | Lyles #7 | 12 JUN 2022 | New York City | [13] | ||
25 | 19.62 | −0.3 | Gay #2 | 24 JUN 2007 | Indianapolis | |||
9 | 25 | 19.62 | −0.5 | Andre De Grasse | ![]() |
04 AUG 2021 | Tokyo | [14] |
25 | 19.62 | −0.1 | Lyles #8 | 19 JUL 2022 | Eugene | [15] | ||
10 | 19.63 | +0.4 | Xavier Carter | ![]() |
11 JUL 2006 | Lausanne | ||
+1.2 | Reynier Mena | ![]() |
03 JUL 2022 | La Chaux-de-Fonds | [16] | |||
12 | 19.65 | ±0.0 | Wallace Spearmon | ![]() |
28 SEP 2006 | Daegu | ||
13 | 19.68 | +0.4 | Frankie Fredericks | ![]() |
01 AUG 1996 | Atlanta | ||
−0.5 | Kenny Bednarek | ![]() |
04 AUG 2021 | Tokyo | [14] | |||
15 | 19.69[A] | −0.5 | Clarence Munyai | ![]() |
16 MAR 2018 | Pretoria | [17] | |
16 | 19.70 | +0.7 | Michael Norman | ![]() |
06 JUN 2019 | Rome | [18] | |
17 | 19.72[A] | +1.8 | Pietro Mennea | ![]() |
12 SEP 1979 | Mexico City | ||
18 | 19.73 | −0.2 | Michael Marsh | ![]() |
05 AUG 1992 | Barcelona | ||
+0.8 | Divine Oduduru | ![]() |
07 JUN 2019 | Austin | [19] | |||
20 | 19.74 | +1.4 | LaShawn Merritt | ![]() |
08 JUL 2016 | Eugene | [20] | |
21 | 19.75 | +1.5 | Carl Lewis | ![]() |
19 JUN 1983 | Indianapolis | ||
+1.7 | Joe DeLoach | ![]() |
28 SEP 1988 | Seoul | ||||
+0.3 | Steven Gardiner | ![]() |
07 APR 2018 | Coral Gables | [21] | |||
24 | 19.76 | +0.7 | Ramil Guliyev | ![]() |
09 AUG 2018 | Berlin | [22] | |
19.76[A] | +2.0 | Fred Kerley | ![]() |
18 SEP 2021 | Nairobi |
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:
Ath.# | Perf.# | Time (s) | Wind (m/s) | Athlete | Nation | Date | Place | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 1 | 21.34 | +1.3 | Florence Griffith-Joyner | ![]() |
29 SEP 1988 | Seoul | |
2 | 2 | 21.45 | +0.6 | Shericka Jackson | ![]() |
21 JUL 2022 | Eugene | [30] |
3 | 3 | 21.53 | +0.8 | Elaine Thompson-Herah | ![]() |
03 AUG 2021 | Tokyo | [31] |
4 | 21.55 | ±0.0 | Jackson #2 | 26 JUN 2022 | Kingston | [32] | ||
5 | 21.56 | +1.7 | Griffith-Joyner #2 | 29 SEP 1988 | Seoul | |||
4 | 6 | 21.61 | +1.3 | Gabrielle Thomas | ![]() |
26 JUN 2021 | Eugene | [33] |
5 | 7 | 21.62[A] | −0.6 | Marion Jones | ![]() |
11 SEP 1998 | Johannesburg | |
6 | 8 | 21.63 | +0.2 | Dafne Schippers | ![]() |
28 AUG 2015 | Beijing | [34] |
7 | 9 | 21.64 | +0.8 | Merlene Ottey | ![]() |
13 SEP 1991 | Brussels | |
10 | 21.66 | −1.0 | Ottey #2 | 15 AUG 1990 | Zürich | |||
+0.2 | Thompson-Herah #2 | 28 AUG 2015 | Beijing | |||||
+0.3 | Thompson-Herah #3 | 02 AUG 2021 | Tokyo | |||||
13 | 21.67 | +2.0 | Jackson #3 | 19 JUL 2022 | Eugene | [35] | ||
8 | 14 | 21.69 | +1.0 | Allyson Felix | ![]() |
30 JUN 2012 | Eugene | [36] |
9 | 15 | 21.71 | +0.7 | Marita Koch | ![]() |
10 JUN 1979 | Karl-Marx-Stadt | |
15 | 21.71 | +0.3 | Koch #2 | 21 JUL 1984 | Potsdam | |||
9 | 15 | 21.71 | +1.2 | Heike Drechsler | ![]() |
29 JUN 1986 | Jena | |
15 | 21.71 | −0.8 | Drechsler #2 | 29 AUG 1986 | Stuttgart | |||
11 | 19 | 21.72 | +1.3 | Grace Jackson | ![]() |
29 SEP 1988 | Seoul | |
−0.1 | Gwen Torrence | ![]() |
05 AUG 1992 | Barcelona | ||||
13 | 22 | 21.74 | +0.4 | Marlies Göhr | ![]() |
03 JUN 1984 | Erfurt | |
+1.2 | Silke Gladisch | ![]() |
03 SEP 1987 | Rome | ||||
+0.6 | Veronica Campbell-Brown | ![]() |
21 AUG 2008 | Beijing | ||||
−0.4 | Shaunae Miller-Uibo | ![]() |
29 AUG 2019 | Zürich | [37] | |||
17 | 25 | 21.75 | −0.1 | Juliet Cuthbert | ![]() |
05 AUG 1992 | Barcelona | |
18 | 21.77 | +0.6 | Inger Miller | ![]() |
27 AUG 1999 | Seville | ||
+1.5 | Tori Bowie | ![]() |
27 May 2017 | Eugene | [38] | |||
−0.3 | Abby Steiner | ![]() |
26 JUN 2022 | Eugene | ||||
21 | 21.78 | +0.6 | Christine Mboma | ![]() |
09 SEP 2021 | Zürich | [39] | |
22 | 21.79 | +0.8 | Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce | ![]() |
27 JUN 2021 | Kingston | [40] | |
23 | 21.81 | −0.1 | Valerie Brisco-Hooks | ![]() |
09 AUG 1984 | Los Angeles | ||
24 | 21.83 | −0.2 | Evelyn Ashford | ![]() |
24 AUG 1979 | Montreal | ||
25 | 21.85 | +0.3 | Bärbel Wöckel | ![]() |
21 JUL 1984 | Potsdam |
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:
Below is a list of other times equal or superior to 20.31:
Below is a list of other times equal or superior to 22.46:
Games | Gold | Silver | Bronze |
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1985 Paris[A] | ![]() |
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1987 Indianapolis |
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1989 Budapest |
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1991 Seville |
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1993 Toronto |
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1995 Barcelona |
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1997 Paris |
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1999 Maebashi |
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2001 Lisbon |
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2003 Birmingham |
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2004 Budapest |
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Games | Gold | Silver | Bronze |
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1985 Paris[A] | ![]() |
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1987 Indianapolis |
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1989 Budapest |
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1991 Seville |
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1993 Toronto |
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1995 Barcelona |
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1997 Paris |
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1999 Maebashi |
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2001 Lisbon |
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2003 Birmingham |
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2004 Budapest |
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Men[edit]
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Women[edit]
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