| POS | Rank | Heat | ATHLETE | COUNTRY | RESULTS | WIND |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | 1 | Michael Johnson |
USA |
20.01 Q | +0.3 |
| 2 | 2 | 1 | Robson da Silva |
BRA |
20.20 Q | +0.3 |
| 3 | 1 | 2 | Frank Fredericks |
NAM |
20.28 Q | -0.9 |
| 4 | 2 | 2 | Jeff Williams |
USA |
20.32 Q | -0.9 |
| 5 | 3 | 1 | Geir Moen |
NOR |
20.32 Q | +0.3 |
| 6 | 3 | 2 | Claudinei da Silva |
BRA |
20.37 Q | -0.9 |
| 7 | 4 | 1 | John Regis |
GBR |
20.39 Q | +0.3 |
| 8 | 5 | 1 | Damien Marsh |
AUS |
20.39 | +0.3 |
| 9 | 4 | 2 | Iván GarcÃa |
CUB |
20.45 Q | -0.9 |
| 10 | 6 | 1 | Jean-Charles Trouabal |
FRA |
20.58 | +0.3 |
| 11 | 5 | 2 | Solomon Wariso |
GBR |
20.58 | -0.9 |
| 12 | 6 | 2 | Steve Brimacombe |
AUS |
20.59 | -0.9 |
| 13 | 7 | 2 | Obadele Thompson |
BAR |
20.66 | -0.9 |
| 14 | 8 | 2 | Andrew Tynes |
BAH |
20.72 | -0.9 |
| 15 | 7 | 1 | Aléxios Alexópoulos |
GRE |
20.78 | +0.3 |
| 16 | 8 | 1 | Patrick Stevens |
BEL |
20.79 | +0.3 |