200 metres Breaststroke, Men

The world record was still David Wilkie’s Olympic winning time from 1976, 2:15.11. The Americans were not present but Soviet Robertas Žulpa would have been favored even if they were in Moscow. Žulpa had swim 2:15.36 earlier in 1980, which was a European record and the fastest time in the world prior to the 1980 Olympics. In the Moscow final, Žulpa came through as expected and won the gold in 2:15.85, the second fastest time of the year. He was trailed by Hungary’s Albán Vermes who was completely new to the world breaststroke scene. In third was Arsens Miskarovs who four days before had won silver in the 100 breaststroke. Žulpa would win silver in the 200 breast at the 1982 World Championships and won gold at the 1981 Europeans, adding a gold medal in the 100 breast at the 1983 Europeans.