200 metres
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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.
Continental records
- Updated 12 April 2026.
| Area | Men | Women | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Time (s) | Wind (m/s) | Athlete | Nation | Time (s) | Wind (m/s) | Athlete | Nation | |
| Africa (records) | 19.46 | +0.4 | Letsile Tebogo | Botswana | 21.78 | +0.6 | Christine Mboma | Namibia |
| Asia (records) | 19.88 | +0.9 | Xie Zhenye | China | 22.01 | ±0.0 | Li Xuemei | China |
| Europe (records) | 19.72[A] | +1.8 | Pietro Mennea | Italy | 21.63 | +0.2 | Dafne Schippers | Netherlands |
| North, Central America and Caribbean (records) | 19.19 WR | −0.3 | Usain Bolt | Jamaica | 21.34 WR | +1.3 | Florence Griffith-Joyner | United States |
| Oceania (records) | 19.67 | +1.7 | Gout Gout | Australia | 22.23 | +0.8 | Melinda Gainsford-Taylor | Australia |
| South America (records) | 19.81 | −0.3 | Alonso Edward | Panama | 22.47 | +1.4 | Vitoria Cristina Rosa | Brazil |
Notes
- A Represents a mark set at a high altitude.
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 April 2026
| Ath.# | Perf.# | Time (s) | Wind (m/s) | Reaction (s) | Athlete | Nation | Date | Place | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | 19.19 | −0.3 | 0.133 | Usain Bolt | Jamaica | 20 August 2009 | Berlin | |
| 2 | 2 | 19.26 | +0.7 | 0.269 | Yohan Blake | Jamaica | 16 September 2011 | Brussels | |
| 3 | 19.30 | −0.9 | 0.182 | Bolt #2 | 20 August 2008 | Beijing | |||
| 3 | 4 | 19.31 | +0.4 | 0.141 | Noah Lyles | United States | 21 July 2022 | Eugene | |
| 4 | 5 | 19.32 | +0.4 | 0.161 | Michael Johnson | United States | 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 | |||
| 9 | 19.46 | +0.8 | 0.199 | Lyles #2 | 10 August 2022 | Monaco | |||
| 5 | 10 | 19.46 | +0.4 | 0.162 | Letsile Tebogo | Botswana | 8 August 2024 | Saint-Denis | |
| 11 | 19.47 | +1.6 | 0.157 | Lyles #3 | 23 July 2023 | London | |||
| 6 | 12 | 19.49 | +1.4 | Erriyon Knighton | United States | 30 April 2022 | Baton Rouge | ||
| 13 | 19.50 | +1.6 | 0.170 | Tebogo #2 | 23 July 2023 | London | |||
| −0.1 | 0.147 | Lyles #4 | 5 July 2019 | Lausanne | |||||
| 15 | 19.51 | +1.0 | 0.181 | Lyles #5 | 18 September 2025 | Tokyo | |||
| 16 | 19.52 | +1.5 | 0.142 | Lyles #6 | 21 August 2021 | Eugene | |||
| −0.6 | 0.164 | Lyles #7 | 8 September 2022 | Zürich | |||||
| −0.2 | 0.144 | Lyles #8 | 25 August 2023 | Budapest | |||||
| ±0.0 | 0.167 | Lyles #9 | 19 September 2025 | Tokyo | |||||
| 7 | 20 | 19.53 | +0.7 | 0.185 | Walter Dix | United States | 16 September 2011 | Brussels | |
| 20 | 19.53 | +0.5 | Lyles #10 | 29 June 2024 | Eugene | ||||
| 22 | 19.54 | ±0.0 | 0.165 | Blake #3 | 7 September 2012 | Brussels | |||
| 23 | 19.55 | −0.1 | 0.147 | Bolt #5 | 27 August 2015 | Beijing | |||
| +0.4 | 0.148 | Tebogo #3 | 5 September 2024 | Zürich | |||||
| 25 | 19.56 | −0.8 | Bolt #6 | 1 May 2010 | Kingston | ||||
| +1.3 | 0.182 | Lyles #11 | 26 August 2022 | Lausanne | |||||
| 8 | 19.57 | +0.4 | 0.177 | Justin Gatlin | United States | 28 June 2015 | Eugene | ||
| +0.4 | 0.182 | Kenny Bednarek | United States | 5 September 2024 | Zürich | ||||
| 10 | 19.58 | +1.3 | Tyson Gay | United States | 30 May 2009 | New York City | |||
| 11 | 19.62 | −0.5 | 0.135 | Andre De Grasse | Canada | 4 August 2021 | Tokyo | ||
| 12 | 19.63 | +0.4 | Xavier Carter | United States | 11 July 2006 | Lausanne | |||
| +1.2 | Reynier Mena | Cuba | 3 July 2022 | La Chaux-de-Fonds | |||||
| 14 | 19.64 | ±0.0 | 0.147 | Bryan Levell | Jamaica | 19 September 2025 | Tokyo | ||
| 15 | 19.65 | ±0.0 | Wallace Spearmon | United States | 28 September 2006 | Daegu | |||
| 16 | 19.67 | +1.7 | Gout Gout | Australia | 12 April 2026 | Sydney | |||
| 17 | 19.68 | +0.4 | Frankie Fredericks | Namibia | 1 August 1996 | Atlanta | |||
| 18 | 19.69[A] | −0.5 | Clarence Munyai | South Africa | 16 March 2018 | Pretoria | |||
| 19 | 19.70 | +0.7 | Michael Norman | United States | 6 June 2019 | Rome | |||
| 20 | 19.71[A] | –1.5 | Courtney Lindsey | United States | 20 April 2024 | Nairobi | |||
| 21 | 19.72[A] | +1.8 | Pietro Mennea | Italy | 12 September 1979 | Mexico City | |||
| 22 | 19.73 | −0.2 | Michael Marsh | United States | 5 August 1992 | Barcelona | |||
| +0.8 | Divine Oduduru | Nigeria | 7 June 2019 | Austin | |||||
| +1.6 | 0.130 | Zharnel Hughes | Great Britain | 23 July 2023 | London | ||||
| +1.8 | T'Mars McCallum | United States | 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 19.70). Only times that are superior to legal bests are shown:
- Kenny Bednarek ran 19.49 A (+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 A (+5.6 m/s) in Hobbs, New Mexico on 17 May 2019.
Women (outdoor)
- Updated September 2025
| Ath.# | Perf.# | Time (s) | Wind (m/s) | Reaction (s) | Athlete | Nation | Date | Place | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | 21.34 | +1.3 | 0.205 | Florence Griffith-Joyner | United States | 29 September 1988 | Seoul | |
| 2 | 2 | 21.41 | +0.1 | 0.161 | Shericka Jackson | Jamaica | 25 August 2023 | Budapest | |
| 3 | 21.45 | +0.6 | 0.144 | Jackson #2 | 21 July 2022 | Eugene | |||
| 4 | 21.48 | +0.2 | 0.161 | Jackson #3 | 8 September 2023 | Brussels | |||
| 3 | 5 | 21.53 | +0.8 | 0.173 | Elaine Thompson-Herah | Jamaica | 3 August 2021 | Tokyo | |
| 6 | 21.55 | ±0.0 | Jackson #4 | 26 June 2022 | Kingston | ||||
| 7 | 21.56 | +1.7 | 0.156 | Griffith-Joyner #2 | 29 September 1988 | Seoul | |||
| 8 | 21.57 | +0.3 | 0.152 | Jackson #5 | 17 September 2023 | Eugene | |||
| 4 | 9 | 21.60 | −0.4 | 0.173 | Gabby Thomas | United States | 9 July 2023 | Eugene | |
| 10 | 21.61 | +1.3 | Thomas #2 | 26 June 2021 | Eugene | ||||
| 5 | 11 | 21.62[A] | −0.6 | 0.258 | Marion Jones | United States | 11 September 1998 | Johannesburg | |
| 6 | 12 | 21.63 | +0.2 | 0.149 | Dafne Schippers | Netherlands | 28 August 2015 | Beijing | |
| 7 | 13 | 21.64 | +0.8 | Merlene Ottey | Jamaica | 13 September 1991 | Brussels | ||
| 14 | 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 | |||||
| 17 | 21.67 | +2.0 | 0.137 | Jackson #6 | 19 July 2022 | Eugene | |||
| 8 | 18 | 21.68 | −0.1 | 0.170 | Melissa Jefferson-Wooden | United States | 19 September 2025 | Tokyo | |
| 9 | 19 | 21.69 | +1.0 | Allyson Felix | United States | 30 June 2012 | Eugene | ||
| 10 | 20 | 21.71 | +0.7 | Marita Koch | East Germany | 10 June 1979 | Karl-Marx-Stadt | ||
| 20 | 21.71 | +0.3 | Koch #2 | 21 July 1984 | Potsdam | ||||
| 10 | 20 | 21.71 | +1.2 | 0.190 | Heike Drechsler | East Germany | 29 June 1986 | Jena | |
| 20 | 21.71 | −0.8 | Drechsler #2 | 29 August 1986 | Stuttgart | ||||
| −0.5 | Jackson #7 | 9 July 2023 | Kingston | ||||||
| 10 | 20 | 21.71 | −0.6 | 0.155 | Julien Alfred | Saint Lucia | 19 July 2025 | London | |
| 13 | 21.72 | +1.3 | 0.195 | Grace Jackson | Jamaica | 29 September 1988 | Seoul | ||
| −0.1 | Gwen Torrence | United States | 5 August 1992 | Barcelona | |||||
| 15 | 21.74 | +0.4 | Marlies Göhr | East Germany | 3 June 1984 | Erfurt | |||
| +1.2 | 0.155 | Silke Gladisch | East Germany | 3 September 1987 | Rome | ||||
| +0.6 | 0.172 | Veronica Campbell-Brown | Jamaica | 21 August 2008 | Beijing | ||||
| −0.4 | 0.143 | Shaunae Miller-Uibo | Bahamas | 29 August 2019 | Zürich | ||||
| 19 | 21.75 | −0.1 | Juliet Cuthbert | Jamaica | 5 August 1992 | Barcelona | |||
| 20 | 21.77 | +0.6 | Inger Miller | United States | 27 August 1999 | Seville | |||
| +1.5 | Tori Bowie | United States | 27 May 2017 | Eugene | |||||
| −0.3 | Abby Steiner | United States | 26 June 2022 | Eugene | |||||
| 23 | 21.78 | +0.6 | Christine Mboma | Namibia | 9 September 2021 | Zürich | |||
| 24 | 21.79 | +0.8 | Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce | Jamaica | 27 June 2021 | Kingston | |||
| 25 | 21.81 | −0.1 | Valerie Brisco-Hooks | United States | 9 August 1984 | Los Angeles |
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 21.80). 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.
- Kimberlyn Duncan ran 21.80 (+3.2 m/s) in Des Moines, Iowa on 23 June 2013.
Men (indoor)
- Updated March 2026.
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 A (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 A (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.
Notes
Below is a list of other times equal or superior to 22.45:
- Irina Privalova also ran 22.15 (1993), 22.16 (1994), 22.26 (1992), 22.32 (1995), 22.36 (1992), 22.41 (1991) and 22.45 (1991).
- Abby Steiner also ran 22.16 (2022), 22.37 (2022), 22.38 (2021), 22.41 (2021) and 22.45 (2022).
- Julien Alfred also ran 22.16 (2024), 22.26 (2023) and 22.28 A (2024).
- Favour Ofili also ran 22.20 A (2023) and 22.36 (2023)
- Merlene Ottey also twice ran 22.24 (1991), 22.34 (1989) and 22.37 (1991).
- Adaejah Hodge also ran 22.33 (2023).
- JaMeesia Ford also ran 22.34 (2025), 22.36 (2024), 22.41 (2025), 22.42 (2025) and 22.45 (2024).
- Indya Mayberry also ran 22.41 A (2025) and 22.42 (2025).
- Veronica Campbell-Brown also ran 22.43 (2004).
- Autumn Wilson also ran 22.45 A (2023).
Olympic medalists
Men
Women
World Championships medalists
Men
Medalists by country
| Rank | Nation | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | United States (USA) | 12 | 8 | 8 | 28 |
| 2 | Jamaica (JAM) | 4 | 3 | 1 | 8 |
| 3 | Namibia (NAM) | 1 | 3 | 0 | 4 |
| 4 | Trinidad and Tobago (TTO) | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| 5 | Greece (GRE) | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Turkey (TUR) | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | |
| 6 | Brazil (BRA) | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Canada (CAN) | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| France (FRA) | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| Great Britain (GBR) | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| South Africa (RSA) | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| 7 | Panama (PAN) | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 8 | Botswana (BOT) | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Ecuador (ECU) | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | |
| Italy (ITA) | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | |
| Japan (JPN) | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | |
| Nigeria (NGR) | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | |
| Saint Kitts and Nevis (SKN) | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
Women
Medalists by country
| Rank | Nation | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jamaica (JAM) | 6 | 6 | 6 | 18 |
| 2 | United States (USA) | 5 | 9 | 2 | 16 |
| 3 | East Germany (GDR) | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Netherlands (NED) | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | |
| 5 | Russia (RUS) | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 |
| Great Britain (GBR) | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 | |
| 7 | Bahamas (BAH) | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 |
| 8 | Germany (GER) | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| 9 | Ukraine (UKR) | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 10 | Ivory Coast (CIV) | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| 11 | Sri Lanka (SRI) | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| 12 | France (FRA) | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| 13 | Cayman Islands (CAY) | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Switzerland (SUI) | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | |
| Nigeria (NGR) | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
World Indoor Championships medalists
Men
| Games | Gold | Silver | Bronze |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1985 Paris[A] | Aleksandr Yevgenyev (URS) | Ade Mafe (GBR) | João Batista da Silva (BRA) |
| 1987 Indianapolis details | Kirk Baptiste (USA) | Bruno Marie-Rose (FRA) | Robson da Silva (BRA) |
| 1989 Budapest details | John Regis (GBR) | Ade Mafe (GBR) | Kevin Little (USA) |
| 1991 Seville details | Nikolay Antonov (BUL) | Linford Christie (GBR) | Ade Mafe (GBR) |
| 1993 Toronto details | James Trapp (USA) | Damien Marsh (AUS) | Kevin Little (USA) |
| 1995 Barcelona details | Geir Moen (NOR) | Troy Douglas (BER) | Sebastián Keitel (CHI) |
| 1997 Paris details | Kevin Little (USA) | Iván García (CUB) | Francis Obikwelu (NGR) |
| 1999 Maebashi details | Frankie Fredericks (NAM) | Obadele Thompson (BAR) | Kevin Little (USA) |
| 2001 Lisbon details | Shawn Crawford (USA) | Christian Malcolm (GBR) | Patrick van Balkom (NED) |
| 2003 Birmingham details | Marlon Devonish (GBR) | Joseph Batangdon (CMR) | Dominic Demeritte (BAH) |
| 2004 Budapest details | Dominic Demeritte (BAH) | Johan Wissman (SWE) | Tobias Unger (GER) |
Women
| Games | Gold | Silver | Bronze |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1985 Paris[A] | Marita Koch (GDR) | Marie-Christine Cazier (FRA) | Kim Robertson (NZL) |
| 1987 Indianapolis details | Heike Drechsler (GDR) | Merlene Ottey-Page (JAM) | Grace Jackson (JAM) |
| 1989 Budapest details | Merlene Ottey (JAM) | Grace Jackson (JAM) | Natalya Kovtun (URS) |
| 1991 Seville details | Merlene Ottey (JAM) | Irina Sergeyeva (URS) | Grit Breuer (GER) |
| 1993 Toronto details | Irina Privalova (RUS) | Melinda Gainsford (AUS) | Natalya Voronova (RUS) |
| 1995 Barcelona details | Melinda Gainsford (AUS) | Pauline Davis (BAH) | Natalya Voronova (RUS) |
| 1997 Paris details | Ekaterini Koffa (GRE) | Juliet Cuthbert (JAM) | Svetlana Goncharenko (RUS) |
| 1999 Maebashi details | Ionela Târlea (ROU) | Svetlana Goncharenko (RUS) | Pauline Davis (BAH) |
| 2001 Lisbon details | Juliet Campbell (JAM) | LaTasha Jenkins (USA) | Natalya Vinogradova-Safronnikova (BLR) |
| 2003 Birmingham details | Muriel Hurtis-Houairi (FRA) | Anastasiya Kapachinskaya (RUS) | Juliet Campbell (JAM) |
| 2004 Budapest details | Natallia Safronnikava (BLR) | Svetlana Goncharenko (RUS) | Karin Mayr-Krifka (AUT) |
- A Known as the World Indoor Games
World leading times
| Year | Time | Wind | Athlete | Date | Place |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Men Year Time Wind Athlete Date Place 1966 20.14 yh +0.1 Tommie Smith (USA) 11 June Sacramento 1967 20.14 Ay +0.9 Tommie Smith (USA) 17 June Provo 1968 19.83 A +0.9 Tommie Smith (USA) 16 October Mexico City 1969 20.24 Ay +0.4 John Carlos (USA) 12 September South Lake Tahoe 1970 20.42 yh +0.3 John Carlos (USA) 17 March Melbourne 1971 19.86 A +1.0 Donald Quarrie (JAM) 3 August Cali 1972 20.00 ±0.0 Valeriy Borzov (URS) 4 September Munich 1973 20.33 y ±0.0 Steve Williams (USA) 16 June Bakersfield 1974 20.06 +0.4 Donald Quarrie (JAM) 16 August Zürich 1975 20.04 h +1.3 Donald Quarrie (JAM) 7 June Eugene 1976 20.10 +1.7 Millard Hampton (USA) 22 June Eugene 1977 20.08 A +0.1 Silvio Leonard (CUB) 12 August Guadalajara 1978 20.03 +1.6 Clancy Edwards (USA) 29 April Westwood 1979 19.72 A +1.8 Pietro Mennea (ITA) 12 September Mexico City 1980 19.96 ±0.0 Pietro Mennea (ITA) 17 August Barletta 1981 20.20 +1.4 James Sanford (USA) 10 May Westwood 1982 20.15 A +0.3 Mike Miller (USA) 2 June Provo 1983 19.75 +1.5 Carl Lewis (USA) 19 June Indianapolis 1984 19.80 −0.9 Carl Lewis (USA) 8 August Los Angeles 1985 20.07 +1.5 Lorenzo Daniel (USA) 18 May Starkville 1986 20.12 +0.6 Floyd Heard (USA) 7 July Moscow 1987 19.92 +1.3 Carl Lewis (USA) 4 May Madrid 1988 19.75 +1.7 Joe DeLoach (USA) 28 August Seoul 1989 19.96 +0.4 Robson da Silva (BRA) 25 August Brussels 1990 19.85 +0.4 Michael Johnson (USA) 6 July Edinburgh 1991 19.88 −0.9 Michael Johnson (USA) 20 September Barcelona 1992 19.73 −0.2 Michael Marsh (USA) 5 August Barcelona 1993 19.85 +0.3 Frankie Fredericks (NAM) 20 August Stuttgart 1994 19.87 A +1.8 John Regis (GBR) 31 July Sestriere 1995 19.79 +0.5 Michael Johnson (USA) 11 August Gothenburg 1996 19.32 +0.4 Michael Johnson (USA) 1 August Atlanta 1997 19.77 +0.7 Ato Boldon (TRI) 13 July Stuttgart 1998 19.88 −0.4 Ato Boldon (TRI) 17 June Athens 1999 19.84 +1.7 Francis Obikwelu (NGR) 25 August Seville 2000 19.71 A +1.8 Michael Johnson (USA) 18 March Pietersburg 2001 19.88 +0.1 Joshua J. Johnson (USA) 24 August Brussels 2002 19.85 A ±0.0 Shawn Crawford (USA) 12 April Pretoria 19.85 −0.5 Konstadínos Kedéris (GRE) 9 August Munich 2003 20.01 +0.3 Bernard Williams (USA) 11 July Rome 2004 19.79 +1.2 Shawn Crawford (USA) 26 August Athens 2005 19.89 +1.8 Wallace Spearmon (USA) 22 July London 2006 19.63 +0.4 Xavier Carter (USA) 11 July Lausanne 2007 19.62 −0.3 Tyson Gay (USA) 24 June Indianapolis 2008 19.30 −0.9 Usain Bolt (JAM) 20 August Beijing 2009 19.19 −0.3 Usain Bolt (JAM) 20 August Berlin 2010 19.56 −0.8 Usain Bolt (JAM) 1 May Kingston 2011 19.26 +0.7 Yohan Blake (JAM) 16 September Brussels 2012 19.32 +0.4 Usain Bolt (JAM) 9 August London 2013 19.66 ±0.0 Usain Bolt (JAM) 17 August Moscow 2014 19.68 −0.5 Justin Gatlin (USA) 18 July Monaco 2015 19.55 −0.1 Usain Bolt (JAM) 27 August Beijing 2016 19.74 +1.4 LaShawn Merritt (USA) 8 July Eugene 2017 19.77 ±0.0 Isaac Makwala (BOT) 14 July Madrid 2018 19.65 +0.9 Noah Lyles (USA) 20 July Monaco 2019 19.50 −0.1 Noah Lyles (USA) 5 July Lausanne 2020 19.76 +0.7 Noah Lyles (USA) 14 August Monaco 2021 19.52 +1.5 Noah Lyles (USA) 21 August Eugene 2022 19.31 +0.4 Noah Lyles (USA) 21 July Eugene 2023 19.47 +1.6 Noah Lyles (USA) 23 July London 2024 19.46 +0.4 Letsile Tebogo (BOT) 8 August Saint-Denis 2025 19.51 +1.0 Noah Lyles (USA) 18 September Tokyo | Women Year Time Wind Athlete Date Place 1968 22.58 A +2.0 Irena Szewinska (POL) 18 October Mexico City 1970 22.62 +0.8 Chi Cheng (ROC) 12 July Munich 1971 22.70 ±0.0 Renate Stecher (GDR) 13 August Helsinki 1972 22.40 +1.1 Renate Stecher (GDR) 7 September Munich 1973 22.38 +1.6 Renate Stecher (GDR) 21 July Dresden 1974 22.21 +1.9 Irena Szewinska (POL) 13 June Potsdam 1975 22.44 NWI Renate Stecher (GDR) 10 August Potsdam 1976 22.37 ±0.0 Bärbel Wöckel (GDR) 24 August Zürich 1977 22.37 +0.8 Irena Szewinska (POL) 24 August Zürich 1978 22.06 +1.2 Marita Koch (GDR) 28 May Erfurt 1979 21.71 +0.7 Marita Koch (GDR) 6 June Karl-Marx-Stadt 1980 22.01 +0.6 Bärbel Wöckel (GDR) 18 July Cottbus 1981 21.84 −1.1 Evelyn Ashford (USA) 28 August Brussels 1982 21.76 +0.3 Marita Koch (GDR) 3 July Dresden 1983 21.82 +1.3 Marita Koch (GDR) 18 June Karl-Marx-Stadt 1984 21.71 +0.3 Marita Koch (GDR) 21 July Potsdam 1985 21.78 −1.3 Marita Koch (GDR) 11 August Leipzig 1986 21.71 +1.2 Heike Drechsler (GDR) 29 June Jena −0.8 Heike Drechsler (GDR) 29 August Stuttgart 1987 21.74 +1.3 Silke Gladisch (GDR) 3 September Rome 1988 21.34 +1.3 Florence Griffith-Joyner (USA) 29 August Seoul 1989 22.04 A +0.7 Dawn Sowell (USA) 2 June Provo 1990 21.66 −1.0 Merlene Ottey (JAM) 15 August Zürich 1991 21.64 +0.8 Merlene Ottey (JAM) 13 September Brussels 1992 21.72 −0.1 Gwen Torrence (USA) 5 August Barcelona 1993 21.77 +1.0 Merlene Ottey (JAM) 7 August Monaco 1994 21.85 −0.8 Gwen Torrence (USA) 12 August Durham 1995 21.77 −0.3 Gwen Torrence (USA) 18 August Cologne 1996 22.07 +0.4 Marie-José Pérec (FRA) 1 August Atlanta −0.1 Mary Onyali (NGR) 14 August Zürich 1997 21.76 −0.8 Marion Jones (USA) 13 August Zürich 1998 21.62 A −0.6 Marion Jones (USA) 11 September Johannesburg 1999 21.77 +0.6 Inger Miller (USA) 27 August Seville 2000 21.94 +1.8 Marion Jones (USA) 23 July Sacramento 2001 22.39 +1.8 LaTasha Jenkins (USA) 23 June Eugene −0.3 Debbie Ferguson (BAH) 9 August Edmonton 2002 22.20 ±0.0 Dbbie Ferguson (BAH) 29 July Manchester 2003 22.11 A −0.5 Allyson Felix (USA) 3 May Mexico City 2004 22.05 +0.8 Veronica Campbell-Brown (JAM) 25 August Athens 2005 22.13 +0.3 Allyson Felix (USA) 26 June Carson 2006 22.00 +1.3 Sherone Simpson (JAM) 25 June Kingston −0.3 Sherone Simpson (JAM) 25 July Stockholm 2007 21.81 +1.7 Allyson Felix (USA) 31 August Osaka 2008 21.74 +0.6 Veronica Campbell-Brown (JAM) 21 August Beijing 2009 21.88 +1.3 Allyson Felix (USA) 31 July Stockholm 2010 21.98 +1.4 Veronica Campbell-Brown (JAM) 12 June New York City 2011 22.15 +1.0 Shalonda Solomon (USA) 26 June Eugene 2012 21.69 +1.0 Allyson Felix (USA) 30 June Eugene 2013 22.13 +1.0 Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce (JAM) 23 June Kingston 2014 22.02 +0.1 Allyson Felix (USA) 5 September Brussels 2015 21.63 +0.2 Dafne Schippers (NED) 28 August Beijing 2016 21.78 −0.1 Elaine Thompson (JAM) 17 August Rio de Janeiro 2017 21.77 +1.5 Tori Bowie (USA) 27 May Eugene 2018 21.89 +0.2 Dina Asher-Smith (GBR) 11 August Berlin 2019 21.74 −0.4 Shaunae Miller-Uibo (BAH) 29 August Zürich 2020 21.98 +2.0 Shaunae Miller-Uibo (BAH) 25 July Clermont 2021 21.53 +0.8 Elaine Thompson-Herah (JAM) 3 August Tokyo 2022 21.45 +0.6 Shericka Jackson (JAM) 21 July Eugene 2023 21.41 +0.1 Shericka Jackson (JAM) 25 August Budapest 2024 21.78 +0.6 Gabby Thomas (USA) 22 June Eugene 2025 21.68 −0.1 Melissa Jefferson-Wooden (USA) 19 September Tokyo | ||||
| 1966 | 20.14 yh | +0.1 | Tommie Smith (USA) | 11 June | Sacramento |
| 1967 | 20.14 Ay | +0.9 | Tommie Smith (USA) | 17 June | Provo |
| 1968 | 19.83 A | +0.9 | Tommie Smith (USA) | 16 October | Mexico City |
| 1969 | 20.24 Ay | +0.4 | John Carlos (USA) | 12 September | South Lake Tahoe |
| 1970 | 20.42 yh | +0.3 | John Carlos (USA) | 17 March | Melbourne |
| 1971 | 19.86 A | +1.0 | Donald Quarrie (JAM) | 3 August | Cali |
| 1972 | 20.00 | ±0.0 | Valeriy Borzov (URS) | 4 September | Munich |
| 1973 | 20.33 y | ±0.0 | Steve Williams (USA) | 16 June | Bakersfield |
| 1974 | 20.06 | +0.4 | Donald Quarrie (JAM) | 16 August | Zürich |
| 1975 | 20.04 h | +1.3 | Donald Quarrie (JAM) | 7 June | Eugene |
| 1976 | 20.10 | +1.7 | Millard Hampton (USA) | 22 June | Eugene |
| 1977 | 20.08 A | +0.1 | Silvio Leonard (CUB) | 12 August | Guadalajara |
| 1978 | 20.03 | +1.6 | Clancy Edwards (USA) | 29 April | Westwood |
| 1979 | 19.72 A | +1.8 | Pietro Mennea (ITA) | 12 September | Mexico City |
| 1980 | 19.96 | ±0.0 | Pietro Mennea (ITA) | 17 August | Barletta |
| 1981 | 20.20 | +1.4 | James Sanford (USA) | 10 May | Westwood |
| 1982 | 20.15 A | +0.3 | Mike Miller (USA) | 2 June | Provo |
| 1983 | 19.75 | +1.5 | Carl Lewis (USA) | 19 June | Indianapolis |
| 1984 | 19.80 | −0.9 | Carl Lewis (USA) | 8 August | Los Angeles |
| 1985 | 20.07 | +1.5 | Lorenzo Daniel (USA) | 18 May | Starkville |
| 1986 | 20.12 | +0.6 | Floyd Heard (USA) | 7 July | Moscow |
| 1987 | 19.92 | +1.3 | Carl Lewis (USA) | 4 May | Madrid |
| 1988 | 19.75 | +1.7 | Joe DeLoach (USA) | 28 August | Seoul |
| 1989 | 19.96 | +0.4 | Robson da Silva (BRA) | 25 August | Brussels |
| 1990 | 19.85 | +0.4 | Michael Johnson (USA) | 6 July | Edinburgh |
| 1991 | 19.88 | −0.9 | Michael Johnson (USA) | 20 September | Barcelona |
| 1992 | 19.73 | −0.2 | Michael Marsh (USA) | 5 August | Barcelona |
| 1993 | 19.85 | +0.3 | Frankie Fredericks (NAM) | 20 August | Stuttgart |
| 1994 | 19.87 A | +1.8 | John Regis (GBR) | 31 July | Sestriere |
| 1995 | 19.79 | +0.5 | Michael Johnson (USA) | 11 August | Gothenburg |
| 1996 | 19.32 | +0.4 | Michael Johnson (USA) | 1 August | Atlanta |
| 1997 | 19.77 | +0.7 | Ato Boldon (TRI) | 13 July | Stuttgart |
| 1998 | 19.88 | −0.4 | Ato Boldon (TRI) | 17 June | Athens |
| 1999 | 19.84 | +1.7 | Francis Obikwelu (NGR) | 25 August | Seville |
| 2000 | 19.71 A | +1.8 | Michael Johnson (USA) | 18 March | Pietersburg |
| 2001 | 19.88 | +0.1 | Joshua J. Johnson (USA) | 24 August | Brussels |
| 2002 | 19.85 A | ±0.0 | Shawn Crawford (USA) | 12 April | Pretoria |
| 19.85 | −0.5 | Konstadínos Kedéris (GRE) | 9 August | Munich | |
| 2003 | 20.01 | +0.3 | Bernard Williams (USA) | 11 July | Rome |
| 2004 | 19.79 | +1.2 | Shawn Crawford (USA) | 26 August | Athens |
| 2005 | 19.89 | +1.8 | Wallace Spearmon (USA) | 22 July | London |
| 2006 | 19.63 | +0.4 | Xavier Carter (USA) | 11 July | Lausanne |
| 2007 | 19.62 | −0.3 | Tyson Gay (USA) | 24 June | Indianapolis |
| 2008 | 19.30 | −0.9 | Usain Bolt (JAM) | 20 August | Beijing |
| 2009 | 19.19 | −0.3 | Usain Bolt (JAM) | 20 August | Berlin |
| 2010 | 19.56 | −0.8 | Usain Bolt (JAM) | 1 May | Kingston |
| 2011 | 19.26 | +0.7 | Yohan Blake (JAM) | 16 September | Brussels |
| 2012 | 19.32 | +0.4 | Usain Bolt (JAM) | 9 August | London |
| 2013 | 19.66 | ±0.0 | Usain Bolt (JAM) | 17 August | Moscow |
| 2014 | 19.68 | −0.5 | Justin Gatlin (USA) | 18 July | Monaco |
| 2015 | 19.55 | −0.1 | Usain Bolt (JAM) | 27 August | Beijing |
| 2016 | 19.74 | +1.4 | LaShawn Merritt (USA) | 8 July | Eugene |
| 2017 | 19.77 | ±0.0 | Isaac Makwala (BOT) | 14 July | Madrid |
| 2018 | 19.65 | +0.9 | Noah Lyles (USA) | 20 July | Monaco |
| 2019 | 19.50 | −0.1 | Noah Lyles (USA) | 5 July | Lausanne |
| 2020 | 19.76 | +0.7 | Noah Lyles (USA) | 14 August | Monaco |
| 2021 | 19.52 | +1.5 | Noah Lyles (USA) | 21 August | Eugene |
| 2022 | 19.31 | +0.4 | Noah Lyles (USA) | 21 July | Eugene |
| 2023 | 19.47 | +1.6 | Noah Lyles (USA) | 23 July | London |
| 2024 | 19.46 | +0.4 | Letsile Tebogo (BOT) | 8 August | Saint-Denis |
| 2025 | 19.51 | +1.0 | Noah Lyles (USA) | 18 September | Tokyo |
| Year | Time | Wind | Athlete | Date | Place |
| 1968 | 22.58 A | +2.0 | Irena Szewinska (POL) | 18 October | Mexico City |
| 1970 | 22.62 | +0.8 | Chi Cheng (ROC) | 12 July | Munich |
| 1971 | 22.70 | ±0.0 | Renate Stecher (GDR) | 13 August | Helsinki |
| 1972 | 22.40 | +1.1 | Renate Stecher (GDR) | 7 September | Munich |
| 1973 | 22.38 | +1.6 | Renate Stecher (GDR) | 21 July | Dresden |
| 1974 | 22.21 | +1.9 | Irena Szewinska (POL) | 13 June | Potsdam |
| 1975 | 22.44 | NWI | Renate Stecher (GDR) | 10 August | Potsdam |
| 1976 | 22.37 | ±0.0 | Bärbel Wöckel (GDR) | 24 August | Zürich |
| 1977 | 22.37 | +0.8 | Irena Szewinska (POL) | 24 August | Zürich |
| 1978 | 22.06 | +1.2 | Marita Koch (GDR) | 28 May | Erfurt |
| 1979 | 21.71 | +0.7 | Marita Koch (GDR) | 6 June | Karl-Marx-Stadt |
| 1980 | 22.01 | +0.6 | Bärbel Wöckel (GDR) | 18 July | Cottbus |
| 1981 | 21.84 | −1.1 | Evelyn Ashford (USA) | 28 August | Brussels |
| 1982 | 21.76 | +0.3 | Marita Koch (GDR) | 3 July | Dresden |
| 1983 | 21.82 | +1.3 | Marita Koch (GDR) | 18 June | Karl-Marx-Stadt |
| 1984 | 21.71 | +0.3 | Marita Koch (GDR) | 21 July | Potsdam |
| 1985 | 21.78 | −1.3 | Marita Koch (GDR) | 11 August | Leipzig |
| 1986 | 21.71 | +1.2 | Heike Drechsler (GDR) | 29 June | Jena |
| −0.8 | Heike Drechsler (GDR) | 29 August | Stuttgart | ||
| 1987 | 21.74 | +1.3 | Silke Gladisch (GDR) | 3 September | Rome |
| 1988 | 21.34 | +1.3 | Florence Griffith-Joyner (USA) | 29 August | Seoul |
| 1989 | 22.04 A | +0.7 | Dawn Sowell (USA) | 2 June | Provo |
| 1990 | 21.66 | −1.0 | Merlene Ottey (JAM) | 15 August | Zürich |
| 1991 | 21.64 | +0.8 | Merlene Ottey (JAM) | 13 September | Brussels |
| 1992 | 21.72 | −0.1 | Gwen Torrence (USA) | 5 August | Barcelona |
| 1993 | 21.77 | +1.0 | Merlene Ottey (JAM) | 7 August | Monaco |
| 1994 | 21.85 | −0.8 | Gwen Torrence (USA) | 12 August | Durham |
| 1995 | 21.77 | −0.3 | Gwen Torrence (USA) | 18 August | Cologne |
| 1996 | 22.07 | +0.4 | Marie-José Pérec (FRA) | 1 August | Atlanta |
| −0.1 | Mary Onyali (NGR) | 14 August | Zürich | ||
| 1997 | 21.76 | −0.8 | Marion Jones (USA) | 13 August | Zürich |
| 1998 | 21.62 A | −0.6 | Marion Jones (USA) | 11 September | Johannesburg |
| 1999 | 21.77 | +0.6 | Inger Miller (USA) | 27 August | Seville |
| 2000 | 21.94 | +1.8 | Marion Jones (USA) | 23 July | Sacramento |
| 2001 | 22.39 | +1.8 | LaTasha Jenkins (USA) | 23 June | Eugene |
| −0.3 | Debbie Ferguson (BAH) | 9 August | Edmonton | ||
| 2002 | 22.20 | ±0.0 | Dbbie Ferguson (BAH) | 29 July | Manchester |
| 2003 | 22.11 A | −0.5 | Allyson Felix (USA) | 3 May | Mexico City |
| 2004 | 22.05 | +0.8 | Veronica Campbell-Brown (JAM) | 25 August | Athens |
| 2005 | 22.13 | +0.3 | Allyson Felix (USA) | 26 June | Carson |
| 2006 | 22.00 | +1.3 | Sherone Simpson (JAM) | 25 June | Kingston |
| −0.3 | Sherone Simpson (JAM) | 25 July | Stockholm | ||
| 2007 | 21.81 | +1.7 | Allyson Felix (USA) | 31 August | Osaka |
| 2008 | 21.74 | +0.6 | Veronica Campbell-Brown (JAM) | 21 August | Beijing |
| 2009 | 21.88 | +1.3 | Allyson Felix (USA) | 31 July | Stockholm |
| 2010 | 21.98 | +1.4 | Veronica Campbell-Brown (JAM) | 12 June | New York City |
| 2011 | 22.15 | +1.0 | Shalonda Solomon (USA) | 26 June | Eugene |
| 2012 | 21.69 | +1.0 | Allyson Felix (USA) | 30 June | Eugene |
| 2013 | 22.13 | +1.0 | Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce (JAM) | 23 June | Kingston |
| 2014 | 22.02 | +0.1 | Allyson Felix (USA) | 5 September | Brussels |
| 2015 | 21.63 | +0.2 | Dafne Schippers (NED) | 28 August | Beijing |
| 2016 | 21.78 | −0.1 | Elaine Thompson (JAM) | 17 August | Rio de Janeiro |
| 2017 | 21.77 | +1.5 | Tori Bowie (USA) | 27 May | Eugene |
| 2018 | 21.89 | +0.2 | Dina Asher-Smith (GBR) | 11 August | Berlin |
| 2019 | 21.74 | −0.4 | Shaunae Miller-Uibo (BAH) | 29 August | Zürich |
| 2020 | 21.98 | +2.0 | Shaunae Miller-Uibo (BAH) | 25 July | Clermont |
| 2021 | 21.53 | +0.8 | Elaine Thompson-Herah (JAM) | 3 August | Tokyo |
| 2022 | 21.45 | +0.6 | Shericka Jackson (JAM) | 21 July | Eugene |
| 2023 | 21.41 | +0.1 | Shericka Jackson (JAM) | 25 August | Budapest |
| 2024 | 21.78 | +0.6 | Gabby Thomas (USA) | 22 June | Eugene |
| 2025 | 21.68 | −0.1 | Melissa Jefferson-Wooden (USA) | 19 September | Tokyo |
See also
- National records in the 200 metres
- List of 200 metres national champions (men)
- Men's 200 metres world record progression
- Women's 200 metres world record progression