Katharine Berkoff Sets New American Record in the 50 M Backstroke!

Once again former Missoula Aquatic Club swimmer Katharine Berkoff is the fastest American woman in the 50 LCM backstroke!

At the USA Swimming Toyota National Championships in Indianapolis on June 5, Berkoff easily won the preliminary heats. Then in the finals she swam a record breaking time of 26.97 seconds becoming the first American woman to post a sub-27 second time. The previous record of 27.10 was held by Reagan Smith who took second in the event.

Berkoff also broke the US Open record (fastest time set on US soil) and the US Championship meet record. Berkoff had set all three records in 2022.

Berkoff becomes only the third woman in the world to break the 27 second barrier and is the second fastest woman of all time behind Australia’s Kaylee McKeon who holds the world record of 26.86 seconds set in 2023.

Katharine Berkoff will next compete as a member of Team USA at the World Championships in Singapore later this summer.

Berkoff is a graduate of Missoula Hellgate High School and North Carolina State University and currently swims for the Wolf Pack Elite in Greensboro.

Congratulations, Katharine!! We are so proud of you!