The men's 200 metre breaststroke event at the 1956 Olympic Games took place between 30 November and 6 December.[1] This swimming event used the breaststroke. Because an Olympic-size swimming pool is 50 metres long, this race consisted of four lengths of the pool.
Three heats were held; the swimmers with the fastest eight times advanced to the Finals. The athletes that advanced are highlighted.
| Rank | Athlete | Country | Time | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2:36.1 | |||
| 2 | 2:36.4 | |||
| 3 | 2:43.9 | |||
| 4 | 2:48.4 | |||
| 5 | 3:19.0 | |||
| - | DSQ | |||
| - | DSQ |
| Rank | Athlete | Country | Time | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2:40.1 | |||
| 2 | 2:40.2 | |||
| 3 | 2:41.8 | |||
| 4 | 2:50.9 | |||
| 5 | 3:18.7 | |||
| - | DSQ | |||
| - | DSQ |
| Rank | Athlete | Country | Time | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2:38.6 | |||
| 2 | 2:41.2 | |||
| 3 | 2:43.0 | |||
| 4 | 2:43.5 | |||
| 5 | 2:47.1 | |||
| 6 | 2:52.2 | |||
| - | DSQ |
| Rank | Athlete | Country | Time | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2:34.7 | |||||
| 2:36.7 | |||||
| 2:36.8 | |||||
| 4 | 2:38.7 | ||||
| 5 | 2:39.0 | ||||
| 6 | 2:40.0 | ||||
| 7 | 2:42.0 | ||||
| DSQ |
A loophole in the rules allowed swimmers to swim below the surface of the water, which was quicker and more efficient, with Furukawa spending 75% of the race underwater. Underwater swimming was banned in early 1957.[2]
Key: DSQ = Disqualified