Berkoff is the eighth NC State swimmer to win an Olympic medal.
Katharine Berkoff took home the bronze in the 100m backstroke in Paris on Tuesday, in the process becoming the first female swimmer from NC State ever to win a medal at the Olympics. Eight Wolfpack swimmers have won medals, and Berkoff is one of five to medal in an individual event.
It was an incredibly tight race at the front, and Berkoff held the lead for a time in the final 50 meters before Aussie Kaylee McKeown overtook her and fellow American Regan Smith down the stretch.
WHAT A RACE.
Regan Smith and Katharine Berkoff secure silver and bronze in the 100m backstroke! #ParisOlympics | NBC & Peacock pic.twitter.com/e7QZVk86TZ
— NBC Olympics & Paralympics (@NBCOlympics) July 30, 2024
Wildly enough, Berkoff won her bronze in the 100m backstroke exactly 32 years after her dad did the same thing. The universe is spooky sometimes, man.
Katharine Berkoff took bronze in the 100m backstroke 32 years TO THE DAY that her dad, Dave did. #ParisOlympics pic.twitter.com/cZIZc93zbH
— NBC Sports (@NBCSports) July 31, 2024
She also had lots of folks rooting her on in Missoula, Montana, where she’s from.
NC State now has two medal-winning swimmers in these Games, as Ryan Held earlier picked up his second gold in the 4x100m free relay (though he did not swim in the final, unfortunately).