Katharine Berkoff Sets World Record in the 50 SCM Backstroke!!

Susan Huckeby

Montana’s own Katharine Berkoff is officially the fastest woman ever in the short course 50-meter backstroke. Swimming Thursday night, October 29, at the U.S. Short Course World Championship Trials in Westmont, Illinois, the Missoula swimmer touched in 25.21, taking down Regan Smith’s world record by two hundredths of a second.


“This is my first individual world record,” Berkoff said. “It has been a goal for a long time.”


Claire Curzan was right behind in 25.26, and both are now headed to the World Short Course Championships in Beijing, Dec. 1–6. Berkoff already owns a 2024 Olympic bronze medal and a 2025 world title in the 50 back, and the event makes its Olympic debut in 2028.
From Missoula to the top of the world. Montana Swimming is proud of you, Katharine!