This race consisted of one length of the pool in freestyle. The top eight swimmers from the heats would qualify for the A final (where the medals would be awarded), while the next best eight swimmers would qualify for the B final.[2]
Records
Prior to this competition, the existing world and Pan American Games records were as follows:
Each National Olympic Committee (NOC) was able to enter up to two entrants providing they had met the A standard (22.71) in the qualifying period (January 1, 2014 to May 1, 2015). NOCs were also permitted to enter one athlete providing they had met the B standard (24.07) in the same qualifying period.[2] All other competing athletes were entered as universality spots.[2]
A swim-off was contested between Erik Risolvato and Dylan Carter to determine who would advance as the eighth seed to the A Final, while the loser would advance to the B Final.[4]