3X World Champion Katharine Berkoff Signs off Final Race With Gold at TYR Pro Series 2024

Katharine Berkoff’s scuffle with big names in the competitive swimming pools is nothing new. In the 2023 US Nationals, the NC State graduate gave the American legend Regan Smith a fitting reply in 100m breaststroke by claiming the top position in the event, nullifying Smith to stitch another record in the event. That day in Indianapolis, Katharine Berkoff became the fifth fastest woman in the event’s history, while Regan Smith had the second position. However, that gave glimpses of Berkoff’s prowess. 

Still, the swimmer has three world championship gold – one in LC and two in SC pools. But the breaststroke events felt special. With a silver medal in the 50 LC m stroke in the 2022 World Swimming Championship, now in Knoxville, Katharine Berkoff was on a mission. 

Katharine Berkoff wins the day

In the battle between big names Rhyan White and Claire Curzan, in TYR Pro Series 2024, NCAA star and world swimming medalist, Katharine Berkoff took the reins. That’s what happened on day 4, catering Berkoff to the top position in the prelims.

And that continued in the final as well. The 100 LC m backstroke event in the women’s category, which took place in the Allan Jones Intercollegiate Aquatic Center, crowned the former world champion with the top podium.

The rest of the Olympic sovereigns followed the lead. According to the caption of SwimSwam Live, the clockings are, “Knoxville Women’s 100 Backstroke Podium: Katharine Berkoff (NCS) — 59.06 Claire Curzan (UN) — 59.11 Rhyan White (WOLF) — 59.84”

It was a fitting start for Berkoff who received her 25th All-American recognition last season. Moreover, the performance was already on a par with what the 22-year-old swimmer created in Phillips 66 last year. At that moment, her timing was slightly better, 58.01. However, for an event full of legends, the performance seemed to be pleasant. 

The hearty connection 

Even after winning the 4x100m medley in World Championship 2023, Katharine Berkoff remained unsatisfied. The reason was her long-run whimsical with the 100m stroke event. In the US trial for the Tokyo Olympics, the former Junior Pan Pacific Championship medalist couldn’t clear the berth for fractions of seconds. That memory echoed in her statement last year: “It means so much. The 100 back is the event I care about. I have had my share of heartbreaks with it,”. Coming from an athletic background, Katharine Berkoff never gave up on the dream. 

Read more: Years After Suffering Multiple Breakdowns, Regan Smith Plays Tick-Tock With the Clock Posting Record-Breaking Achievement in 30 Minutes

So, regardless of the outcome, she was pretty much in preparation for the 100m stroke event. Now, it seems the time to get the payback. 

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