Tonya Washington Assistant AD/Student-Athlete Engagement and Leadership | LinkedIn
Tonya Washington Assistant AD/Student-Athlete Engagement and Leadership | LinkedIn
Katharine Berkoff wins bronze in 100m backstroke at Paris Olympics
PARIS, France—History was made Tuesday night in Paris as Katharine Berkoff won the bronze medal in the women's 100m backstroke at the Olympic Games.
Berkoff became the first female swimmer from NC State to medal in an Olympic Games and only the second female athlete to do so, joining Joan Benoit, who won gold in the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics in track and field.
Berkoff, who had the fastest time in the preliminaries and the third-fastest time in the semifinals, finished the finals at 57.98 seconds. She was just behind fellow American teammate Regan Smith (57.66) and Kaylee McKeown of Australia (57.33), who set an Olympic record.
Already a five-time ACC champion and three-time NCAA champion in the 100 backstroke, Berkoff now adds her first Olympic medal in her first Olympic games.
NC State swimming alums have now won two medals for the United States at this Olympics, as Berkoff joins Ryan Held, who won his second gold medal in the 4x100 freestyle relay earlier in the games.
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