1908 was the first appearance of the 200 metre breaststroke, as 1904 had seen the introduction of the stroke to Olympic competition with the 440 yard event.

[2] With a much larger field than in 1904, the 1908 competition expanded to three rounds: heats, semifinals, and a final.

The 1908 Games also restored the wild-card system from 1900, allowing the fastest swimmers who did not win their heat to advance.

[3] Each race involved two lengths of the 100 metre pool.

The rules required that "both hands of the competitor must be pushed forward and brought backwards simultaneously, the shoulders must be kept perfectly in line with the surface of the water, and when touching at the turn .