Katharine Berkoff Blasts Strong Opening Swim in 100 Back Prelims to Kick Off Olympic Debut

2024 Paris Summer Olympic Games

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Katharine Berkoff blasted to a strong start in the first race of her debut Olympics Monday morning, posting a time of 57.99 in the preliminary heats of the women’s 100-meter back. 

The only swimmer under the 58 mark in prelims, Berkoff heads into the semifinals as the top seed after clocking in almost half a second ahead of both Australia’s Kaylee McKeown (58.45) and fellow American Regan Smith (58.48). 

Known for her speed and willingness to attack the race on both ends, Berkoff had the fastest closing split in the field with a 29.85 to secure spot atop the rankings.

The performance highlights just how far Berkoff has come since the last Olympic cycle, as she narrowly missed qualifying for the Tokyo Games. At the U.S. Olympic Trials in 2021, Berkoff finished 4th overall with a time of 58.82. 

Since then, Berkoff has racked up 10 medals at international championships, including four World Championships medals, and become a three-time NCAA champion in the 100-yard back. 

Berkoff joined the elite sub-58 club in the 100-meter back at the 2024 U.S. Olympic Trials in June, turning in not one but two swims in the 57 range. She threw down a lifetime best 57.83 in the semifinals before posting a time of 57.91 in the finals to clinch her spot on the Olympic roster behind Smith.

Berkoff’s performance in the Paris prelims marks her 3rd-fastest swim ever and her 3rd time under that sub-58 barrier. Coincidentally, that also means that she has not swam a time in the 58 range since first cracking that barrier. 

Berkoff’s consistency and notable speed will certainly be an asset to her as she moves on to the semifinals and finals, putting her right at the heart of the competition.

Much of the talk about this event centers around Smith and McKeown as they vie for control of the world record, but Berkoff cannot be counted out as one of the top contenders for an Olympic medal, especially after this swim.