Medal count by country in the Men's 200m at the Summer Olympics 1900-2020

In the Men's 200 meter sprint at the Olympic Games, the United States has historically been the most successful nation in this event. Of a potential 81 medals, the United States has won a total of 46, taking the gold medal 17 out of 28 times. Jamaican athletes have had the most success in recent years, with Usain Bolt (the event's most successful athlete) winning three golds between 2008 and 2016, and Jamaican athletes swept the podium in 2012. The United States has swept the podium five times.

2008 controversy

In 2008, third-placed Wallace Spearmon was disqualified for stepping out of his lane during the race, just minutes after the event ended. US officials originally wanted to appeal this decision, but replays showed that the runner-up, Churandy Martina of the Netherlands Antilles, also stepped out of his lane. The U.S. officials then changed their original protest, and instead filed a different appeal for Martina to also be disqualified; if granted, this would have moved two other US athletes into the silver and bronze positions. Olympic officials agreed and disqualified Martina, preventing the Netherlands Antilles from winning their second ever Olympic medal, and U.S. runners Shawn Crawford and Walter Dix were awarded the silver and bronze medals respectively. It is reported that ten days later, Crawford privately gave his silver medal to Martina in a display of sportsmanship, although the IOC upheld his disqualification in 2009.