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

{{Cleanup section|reason=This section is editorialised. It uses peacock terms which are not in-keeping with a neutral, encyclopedic tone.|date=April 2025}}

In similar fashion to her win in the shorter backstroke event days earlier, Australia's Kaylee McKeown came from behind to strike a backstroke double for the first time since Missy Franklin in 2012. Canada's Kylie Masse narrowly led over McKeown at the first turn, before extending her margin to 0.80 seconds at the halfway mark. Only recovering a tenth of a second on the penultimate lap, McKeown used a blistering final lap to overtake Masse and win Australia's first title in the event in 2:04.68. Meanwhile Masse broke her Canadian record to win the silver medal, her second at these Games.

Fifth at the final turn, Australia's two-time World champion Emily Seebohm (2:06.17) charged home to claim the bronze medal - her second individual Olympic medal - and join teammate McKeown on the podium. The U.S.' Rhyan White (2:06.39) and Phoebe Bacon (2:06.40) could not hold off Seebohm down the stretch, finishing within 0.01 seconds of each other to take fourth and fifth, respectively. Almost two seconds behind, Masse's teammate Taylor Ruck claimed a distant sixth spot in 2:08.40. The Chinese duo of Peng Xuwei (2:08.26) and Liu Yaxin (2:08.48) closed out the championship field.

Notably, the U.S.' world record holder and reigning World champion Regan Smith failed to qualify for the event after placing third at the 2020 USA Swimming Olympic trials.

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

{{World Olympic Record

| world_athlete = {{flagathlete|Regan Smith|USA}}

| world_mark = 2:03.35

| world_place = Gwangju, South Korea

| world_date = 26 July 2019

| world_ref = {{cite news|first=David|last=Rieder|url=https://www.swimmingworldmagazine.com/news/regan-smith-shatters-missy-franklins-200-back-world-record/|title=Regan Smith Shatters Missy Franklin's 200 Back World Record In 2:03.35|date=26 July 2019|publisher=Swimming World Magazine|accessdate=1 February 2020}}

| olympic_athlete = {{flagIOCathlete|Missy Franklin|USA|2012 Summer}}

| olympic_mark = 2:04.06

| olympic_place = London, United Kingdom

| olympic_date = 3 August 2012

| olympic_ref = {{cite news|last=Auerbach|first=Nicole|title=USA's Missy Franklin wins another gold, sets world record|url=http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/sports/olympics/london/swimming/story/2012-08-03/missy-franklin-olympics-200-back-usa/56749012/1|publisher=USA Today|date=4 August 2012|accessdate=11 July 2013}}{{cite news|title=US swimmer Missy Franklin sets world record, Phelps ends individual races with medal|url=https://www.foxnews.com/sports/us-swimmer-missy-franklin-sets-world-record-phelps-ends-individual-races-with-medal/|publisher=Fox News|date=3 August 2012|access-date=11 July 2013}}

}}

Prior to this competition, the fastest time this year in the event was as follows:

No new records were set during the competition.

{{main|Swimming at the 2020 Summer Olympics – Qualification}}

The Olympic Qualifying Time for the event is 2:10.39. 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 2:14.30. 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 female swimmer qualified in any event can also use their universality place.{{cite news|title=Tokyo 2020 – FINA Swimming Qualification System|url= https://www.fina.org/sites/default/files/general/final_-_2018-03-19_-_tokyo_2020_-_qualification_system_-_swimming_-_eng.pdf|work=Tokyo 2020|publisher=FINA|accessdate=29 January 2020}}

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.{{cite web|title=FINA Swimming Rulebook, 2017–21|url=https://www.fina.org/sites/default/files/2017_2021_swimming_12092017_ok_0.pdf|website=FINA|accessdate=29 January 2020}}

All times are Japan Standard Time (UTC+9)

The swimmers with the top 16 times, regardless of heat, advanced to the semifinals.{{Cite web |url=https://olympics.com/tokyo-2020/olympic-games/resOG2020-/pdf/OG2020-/SWM/OG2020-_SWM_C74A_SWMW200MBA------------HEAT--------.pdf |title=Heats results |access-date=29 July 2021 |archive-date=29 July 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210729113221/https://olympics.com/tokyo-2020/olympic-games/resOG2020-/pdf/OG2020-/SWM/OG2020-_SWM_C74A_SWMW200MBA------------HEAT--------.pdf |url-status=dead }}

The swimmers with the best 8 times, regardless of heat, advanced to the final.{{Cite web |url=https://olympics.com/tokyo-2020/olympic-games/resOG2020-/pdf/OG2020-/SWM/OG2020-_SWM_C74A_SWMW200MBA------------SFNL--------.pdf |title=Semifinals results |access-date=30 July 2021 |archive-date=22 August 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210822071949/https://olympics.com/tokyo-2020/olympic-games/resOG2020-/pdf/OG2020-/SWM/OG2020-_SWM_C74A_SWMW200MBA------------SFNL--------.pdf |url-status=dead }}

{{Cite web |url=https://olympics.com/tokyo-2020/olympic-games/resOG2020-/pdf/OG2020-/SWM/OG2020-_SWM_C73A1_SWMW200MBA------------FNL-000100--.pdf |title=Final results |access-date=31 July 2021 |archive-date=22 August 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210822071929/https://olympics.com/tokyo-2020/olympic-games/resOG2020-/pdf/OG2020-/SWM/OG2020-_SWM_C73A1_SWMW200MBA------------FNL-000100--.pdf |url-status=dead }}

{{Reflist}}

{{Footer Olympic Champions 200 m Backstroke Women}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Swimming at the 2020 Summer Olympics - Women's 200 metre backstroke}}

Women's 00200 metre backstroke

Olympics

Category:Women's events at the 2020 Summer Olympics

Category:2021 in women's swimming