The men's 200 metre backstroke event at the 2000 Summer Olympics took place on 20–21 September at the Sydney International Aquatic Centre in Sydney, Australia. Soviet-born American Lenny Krayzelburg became the fourth swimmer in Olympic history to strike a backstroke double, since Roland Matthes did so in 1968 and 1972, John Naber in 1976, and Rick Carey in 1984. He powered past his nearest rivals Aaron Peirsol and Australia's overwhelming favorite Matt Welsh to hit the wall first in a new Olympic record of 1:56.76. At only 17 years of age, Peirsol trailed behind by almost half a second (0.50) to take a silver in 1:57.35, handing an entire medal haul for the U.S. team with a one–two finish. Meanwhile, Welsh settled only for the bronze in an Oceanian record of 1:57.59.