Who is Katharine Berkoff’s father? Swimmer says she's 'glad' to be in dad's footsteps after Olympics win

PARIS, FRANCE: Team USA swimmer Katharine Berkoff proudly followed in her father’s medal-winning footsteps at Paris 2024 Olympics. 

Berkoff scored bronze medal in women's 100-meter backstroke on Tuesday, July 30, matching the achievement of her father David Berkoff from 32 years ago.

David Berkoff's Olympics legacy - From records to poineering 'Berkoff Blastoff' technique

A backstroker, Dave Berkoff competed at the 1988 and 1992 Olympics in four events, winning medals in each of the events, including two gold medals in medley relay, according to the Olympics atheletes biography.

During the 1992 Barcelona Summer Olympics, David Berkoff, now 57, was placed third in the 100-meter backstroke. He also took home the gold in the 4 x 100-meter medley relay that same year.

David also competed at the 1988 Seoul Summer Olympics where he was placed second in the 100-meter backstroke and won gold in the 4 x 100-meter medley relay, People noted.

His international sideboard also includes a silver medal in 100 back from the 1987 Pan American Games and a silver in medley relay at the 1987 Universiade.

David also pioneered a new technique called the Berkoff Blastoff when he arrived at Seoul. It was the technique "where he could plunge after the push-off, not rising above the water until the 35 to 40-metre mark," according to Olympics Wiki.

FINA banned backstrokers from using the technique after the Olympics in Seoul and placed a time limit on their time underwater following the turn.

Katharine Berkoff's win brings Team USA to a combined total of 3,000 Olympic medals across all sports

Katharine Berkoff, 23, finished third in 57.89 seconds in her event final on Tuesday, July 30. She trailed her teammate Regan Smith who finished second with 57.66 seconds.

Smith broke the world record time at June's US Olympic Swimming Trials and completed the race in 57.13 seconds.

Defending Olympic champion Kaylee McKeown won gold again with a time of 57.33 seconds.

Meanwhile, Smith and Berkoff's wins brought Team USA to a combined total of 3,000 Olympic medals across all sports, the first country ever to do so, as per Olympic Foundation counts, reports CBS News. It was USA's 600th Olympic medal in swimming.

Katharine Berkoff's Olympic medal win celebration

Berkoff celebrated the win on Instagram with a sweet message. "So happy that I got to earn another medal for Team USA last night. I’m feeling so grateful for my community of people," Berkoff wrote.

"Thank you to everyone supporting me along the way ❤️" she added.

Team USA’s Tuesday, July 30, wins were followed by Katie Ledecky placing first during the Wednesday, July 31, 1500-meter freestyle race. Ledecky finished the race in 15:30.02, beating France's Anastasiia Kirpichnikova who earned silver with a 15:40.35.

"Its really cool. I mean, I just went out there and I did everything I could, but, you know it was really special," Katharine told NBC News. 

"I'm super glad to be able to follow in dad's footsteps," she said.

David Berkoff's induction in International Swimming Hall of Fame

David Berkoff studied environmental studies for his master's degree and competed in swimming at Harvard.

Later on, the University of Montana awarded him a degree in law. He settled in Missoula with his family and went on to practice law there.

He was appointed to the Board of Directors of USA Swimming in 2010.

Additionally, he worked for the Missoula-based Watson's Children Shelter which offers care and shelter to neglected or abandoned children as a way to support children's rights.

The International Swimming Hall of Fame inducted Berkoff in 2005.