Swimming at the 1956 Summer Olympics – Men's 200 metre butterfly
The men's 200 metre butterfly event at the 1956 Olympic Games took place on November 30 and December 1. This swimming event used the butterfly stroke. Because an Olympic-size swimming pool is 50 metres long, this race consisted of four lengths of the pool. This was the first time that the butterfly stroke had appeared in the Olympic Games.Medalists
Results
Heats
Three heats were held. The swimmers with the eight fastest times advanced to the Finals. The swimmers that advanced are highlighted.Heat One
Heat Two
Heat Three
Final
| Rank | Athlete | Country | Time | Notes |
| William Yorzyk | | 2:19.3 | |
| Takashi Ishimoto | | 2:23.8 | |
| György Tumpek | | 2:23.9 | |
| 4 | Jack Nelson | | 2:26.6 | |
| 5 | John Marshall | | 2:27.2 | |
| 6 | Eulalio Ríos Alemán | | 2:27.3 | |
| 7 | Brian Wilkinson | | 2:29.7 | |
| 8 | Alexandru Popescu | | 2:31.0 | |
