200 metres Individual Medley, Men

This was the first time on the Olympic Program for the 200 individual medley. Official world records had only been recognized in the event since 1966 with Greg Buckingham setting the first two, while Charlie Hickcox bettered him and held the world mark coming into the Olympics. The two made the final along with teammate John Ferris and a medal sweep was considered a possibility. Hickcox was never seriously challenged, taking the lead on the butterfly leg and expanding it on the second 50 using his best stroke, the backstroke. Behind him Buckingham and Ferris were close throughout for the other medals, Buckingham eventually coming in for the silver a full second behind Hickcox, with Ferris third. Peru’s Juan Carlos Bello was in third place briefly on the breaststroke leg, but was passed on the freestyle by Ferris and placed fourth. Through 2008 this remains the best finish ever by a Peruvian swimmer at the Olympics. Hickcox swam again in the 100 backstroke two days later and won a silver behind Roland Matthes, and won gold the next day in the 400 IM, completing an individual medley double.