Swimming at the 1964 Tokyo Summer Games:

The defending Olympic champion in this event was Ernst Hoppenberg of Germany, who had won in 1900, the last time the 200 backstroke was contested at the Olympics. Hoppenburg did not compete in Tokyo, having died in 1937. In 1964 the 200 replaced the 100 backstroke that was usually on the Olympic Program. The last four world records at 200 back had been set by American Tom Stock but he did not make the US team for Tokyo. It mattered little to the Americans as they swept the medals, led by Jed Graef who swam 2:10.3 to better Stock’s world mark, with Gary Dilley close behind in second. The bronze medal position came down to Bob Bennett against Shigeo Fukushima, with the Japanese closing fast, but Bennett hung on to complete the sweep for the USA.