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 event has been on the Olympic athletics programme since 1900 for men and since 1948 for women. 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 seconds at the 2009 World Championships. The women's world record holder is Florence Griffith Joyner of the United States, who ran 21.34 seconds at the 1988 Summer Olympics. The reigning Olympic champions are Letsile Tebogo (BOT) and Gabby Thomas (USA). The reigning World Champions are Noah Lyles (USA) and Melissa Jefferson-Wooden (USA).

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

Area records Updated 28 September 2026.

Area Men Women Time(s) Wind(m/s) Season Athlete Time(s) Wind(m/s) Season Athlete World 19.19 −0.3 2009 21.34 +1.3 1988 Area records Africa 19.46 +0.4 2024 21.78 +0.6 2021 Asia 19.88 +0.9 2019 22.01 ±0.0 1997 −0.3 2026 Europe 19.72 +1.8 1979 21.63 +0.2 2015 North, Central Americaand Caribbean 19.19 −0.3 2009 21.34 +1.3 1988 Oceania 19.67 +1.7 2026 22.23 +0.8 1997 South America 19.81 −0.3 2009 22.47 +1.4 2022

All-time top 25 Outdoor tables show data for two definitions of "Top 25" - the top 25 200 m times and the top 25 athletes:- denotes top performance for athletes in the top 25 200 m times- denotes lesser performances, still in the top 25 200 m times, by repeat athletes- denotes top performance (only) for other top 25 athletes who fall outside the top 25 200 m times

Men (outdoor)

Updated September 2026

Time (s) Wind (m/s) Reaction (s) Athlete Nation Date Place 1 1 19.19 −0.3 0.133 Usain Bolt 20 August 2009 Berlin 2 2 19.26 +0.7 0.269 Yohan Blake 16 September 2011 Brussels 3 19.30 −0.9 0.182 Bolt #2 20 August 2008 Beijing 34 19.31 +0.4 0.141 Noah Lyles 21 July 2022 Eugene4 5 19.32 +0.4 0.161 Michael Johnson 1 August 1996 Atlanta 6 19.32 +0.4 0.180 Bolt #3 9 August 2012 London 7 19.40 +0.8 0.193 Bolt #4 3 September 2011 Daegu 8 19.44 +0.4 0.172 Blake #2 9 August 2012 London 919.46 +0.80.199 Lyles #210 August 2022Monaco51019.46+0.40.162Letsile Tebogo8 August 2024Saint-Denis1119.47 +1.60.157 Lyles #323 July 2023London61219.49 +1.4Erriyon Knighton30 April 2022Baton Rouge1319.50 +1.60.170Tebogo #223 July 2023London−0.10.147Lyles #45 July 2019Lausanne 1519.51+1.00.181Lyles #518 September 2025Tokyo 16 19.52 +1.5 0.142 Lyles #6 21 August 2021 Eugene −0.60.164Lyles #78 September 2022Zürich−0.20.144Lyles #825 August 2023Budapest±0.00.167Lyles #919 September 2025Tokyo71619.52−0.1 0.171 Kenny Bednarek 13 September 2026 Budapest 8 21 19.53 +0.7 0.185 Walter Dix 16 September 2011 Brussels 21 19.53 +0.5 Lyles #10 29 June 2024 Eugene 23 19.54 ±0.0 0.165 Blake #3 7 September 2012 Brussels 24 19.55 −0.1 0.147 Bolt #5 27 August 2015 Beijing +0.40.148Tebogo #35 September 2024Zürich9 19.57 +0.4 0.177 Justin Gatlin 28 June 2015 Eugene 10 19.58 +1.3 Tyson Gay 30 May 2009 New York City11 19.62 −0.5 0.135 Andre De Grasse 4 August 2021 Tokyo 12 19.63 +0.4 Xavier Carter 11 July 2006 Lausanne +1.2Reynier Mena3 July 2022La Chaux-de-Fonds +1.5 Jaiden Reid12 June 2026Eugene1519.64±0.00.147 Bryan Levell19 September 2025Tokyo16 19.65 ±0.0 Wallace Spearmon 28 September 2006 Daegu 17 19.67 +1.7 Gout Gout 12 April 2026 Sydney 18 19.68 +0.4 Frankie Fredericks 1 August 1996 Atlanta 19 19.69  −0.5 Clarence Munyai 16 March 2018 Pretoria 20 19.70 +0.7 Michael Norman 6 June 2019 Rome 21 19.71  −1.5 Courtney Lindsey 20 April 2024 Nairobi 22 19.72  +1.8 Pietro Mennea 12 September 1979 Mexico City 23 19.73 −0.2 Michael Marsh 5 August 1992 Barcelona +0.8 Divine Oduduru 7 June 2019 Austin +1.6 0.130 Zharnel Hughes 23 July 2023 London +1.8 T'Mars McCallum 12 July 2025 Memphis

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 19.73). 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. 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. Micaiah Harris ran 19.72 (+3.8 m/s) in Lubbock, Texas on 15 May 2022. Shawn Crawford ran 19.73 (+3.3 m/s) in Eugene, Oregon on 28 June 2009.

Women (outdoor)

Updated September 2026

Time (s) Wind (m/s) Reaction (s) Athlete Nation Date Place 1 1 21.34 +1.3 0.205 Florence Griffith Joyner 29 September 1988 Seoul 2221.41 +0.10.161Shericka Jackson25 August 2023Budapest321.45 +0.60.144Jackson #221 July 2022Eugene3421.47−0.60.169 Melissa Jefferson-Wooden13 September 2026Budapest521.48 +0.20.161Jackson #38 September 2023Brussels4621.51 +0.90.172Julien Alfred10 July 2026Monaco5 7 21.53 +0.8 0.173 Elaine Thompson-Herah 3 August 2021 Tokyo 821.55±0.0Jackson #426 June 2022Kingston9 21.56 +1.7 0.156 Griffith Joyner #2 29 September 1988 Seoul 1021.57 +0.30.152Jackson #517 September 2023Eugene6 11 21.60 −0.4 0.173 Gabby Thomas 9 July 2023 Eugene 1221.61 +1.3Thomas #226 June 2021Eugene7 13 21.62 −0.6 0.258 Marion Jones 11 September 1998 Johannesburg 8 14 21.63 +0.2 0.149 Dafne Schippers 28 August 2015 Beijing 9 15 21.64 +0.8 Merlene Ottey 13 September 1991 Brussels 16 21.66 −1.0 Ottey #2 15 August 1990 Zürich +0.2 0.195 Thompson-Herah #2 28 August 2015 Beijing +0.3 0.165 Thompson-Herah #3 2 August 2021 Tokyo +0.10.152Alfred #218 July 2026London2021.67 +2.00.137Jackson #619 July 2022Eugene21 21.68 −0.1 0.170 Jefferson-Wooden #2 19 September 2025 Tokyo 102121.68 −0.4 Adaejah Hodge 13 June 2026 Eugene 11 23 21.69 +1.0 Allyson Felix 30 June 2012 Eugene 2321.69 +1.0Jefferson-Wooden #326 July 2026New York City25 21.70 +0.7 Thomas #3 6 June 2026 College Station 12 21.71 +0.7 Marita Koch 10 June 1979 Karl-Marx-Stadt+1.2 0.190 Heike Drechsler 29 June 1986 Jena 1421.72 +1.30.195Grace Jackson29 September 1988Seoul−0.1Gwen Torrence5 August 1992Barcelona16 21.74 +0.4 Marlies Göhr 3 June 1984 Erfurt +1.2 0.155 Silke Gladisch 3 September 1987 Rome +0.6 0.172 Veronica Campbell-Brown 21 August 2008 Beijing −0.4 0.143 Shaunae Miller-Uibo 29 August 2019 Zürich 20 21.75 −0.1 Juliet Cuthbert 5 August 1992 Barcelona 21 21.77 +0.6 Inger Miller 27 August 1999 Seville +1.5 Tori Bowie 27 May 2017 Eugene −0.3 Abby Steiner 26 June 2022 Eugene 24 21.78 +0.6 Christine Mboma 9 September 2021 Zürich 25 21.79 +0.8 Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce 27 June 2021 Kingston

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 21.79). 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. Favour Ofili ran 21.74 (+2.8 m/s) in Memphis, Tennessee on 10 July 2026. Madison Whyte ran 21.78 (+6.0 m/s) in Lincoln, Nebraska on 17 May 2026.

Men (indoor) Updated March 2026.

RankTimeAthleteNationDatePlace1 19.92 Frankie Fredericks 18 February 1996 Liévin 219.95Garrett Kaalund14 March 2026Fayetteville320.02Elijah Hall10 March 2018College Station420.08Divine Oduduru23 February 2019Lubbock520.10Wallace Spearmon12 March 2005Fayetteville6 20.11 Christian Coleman 11 March 2017 College Station Jelani Watkins13 March 2026Fayetteville820.12 Matthew Boling11 March 2023Albuquerque920.13Courtney Lindsey25 February 2023LubbockMakanakaishe Charamba27 February 2025College Station1120.17 Udodi Onwuzurike10 March 2023AlbuquerqueTarsis Orogot10 March 2023Albuquerque20.17Wanya McCoy14 March 2026Fayetteville1420.19 Trayvon Bromell 14 March 2015 Fayetteville 15 20.20 Terrance Laird 13 March 2021 Fayetteville Tapiwanashe Makarawu27 February 2025College Station1720.21Erriyon Knighton11 February 2024LiévinTerrence Jones24 February 2024Lubbock1820.22 Robert Gregory11 March 2023Albuquerque1920.24Alexander Ogando8 February 2026Val-de-Reuil20 20.25 Linford Christie 19 February 1995 Liévin 2220.26 Obadele Thompson 6 March 1999 Maebashi Shawn Crawford 10 March 2000 Fayetteville John Capel 10 March 2000 Fayetteville Andre De Grasse 14 March 2015 Fayetteville

Notes Below is a list of other times equal or superior to 20.26: Garrett Kaalund also ran 20.06 (2026), 20.11 (2026) and 20.12 (2026). Frankie Fredericks also ran 20.10 (1999), 20.18 (1999) and 20.26 (1995). Wallace Spearmon also ran 20.10 (2005), 20.19 (2008) and 20.21 (2005). Divine Oduduru also ran 20.18 (2018) and 20.21 (2018). Matthew Boling also ran 20.19 (2021). Tarsis Orogot also ran 20.20 (2023 × 2). Trayvon Bromell also ran 20.23 (2015). Terrence Jones also ran 20.23 (2024). Wanya McCoy also ran 20.25 (2025). Elijah Hall also ran 20.26 (2018). Jelani Watkins also ran 20.26 (2026).

Women (indoor) Updated February 2026.