Katharine Berkoff Breaks Pro Series Meet Record, Just 0.01 Off American Record With 26.98 50 Back

2026 Indianapolis Pro Series

• June 17-20, 2026
• Indianapolis, IN
• LCM (50 meters)
• Meet Central
• Psych Sheets
• Live Results
• Live Stream: USA Swimming Network (Downloadable App)
• Live Recap:
  • Prelims: Day 1 | Day 2
  • Finals: Day 1 | Day 2

Women’s 50 Backstroke

• World Record: 26.86 – Kaylee McKeown, AUS (2023)
• American Record: 26.97 – Katharine Berkoff, USA (2025)
• U.S. Open Record: 26.97 – Katharine Berkoff, USA (2025)
• Pro Series Record: 27.05 – Katharine Berkoff, USA (2026)

Top 8: 

1. Katharine Berkoff (WOLF) – 26.98 *PRO SERIES RECORD*
2. Isabelle Stadden (AQJT) – 27.14
3. Claire Curzan (TAC) – 27.54
4. Leah Shackley (NCS) – 27.63
5. Rhyan White (WOLF) – 27.66
6. Maggie Wanezek (WISC) – 27.70
7. Olivia Smoliga (TFA) – 27.85
8. Kaitlyn Owens (TAMU) – 27.86

Katharine Berkoff broke her own Pro Series Meet Record, swimming a 26.98 in finals. That broke her previous record of a 27.05 that she swam in prelims. She also was just 0.01 off her own American Record.

In addition to being only 0.01 off her own American Record, Berkoff’s swim also is tied as the 3rd fastest performance all-time.

All-Time Top Performances, Women’s LCM 50 Back

1. Kaylee McKeown, 26.86, Australia, 2023
2. Katharine Berkoff, 26.97, United States, 2025
3. Katharine Berkoff, 26.98, United States, 2026
4. Kaylee McKeown, 26.98, Australia, 2023
5. Liu Xiang, 26.98, People’s Republic of China, 2018

Berkoff had a strong swim in prelims with a 27.05, a time that sits as the #7 performance all-time. That broke the previous Pro Series record of a 27.13 set by Kylie Maase of Canada in 2025.

Berkoff sits as the #1 swimmer in the world so far this season and is the only swimmer to go sub-27 this year.