David Berkhoff Elected to Philadelphia Sports Hall of Fame

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Photo Courtesy: Andy Ross

A talented class of 15 was elected into the Philadelphia Sports Hall of Fame on Tuesday and will be inducted this fall.

Among the familiar names like basketball star Allen Iverson, pitcher Jamie Moyer, Negro Leagues Hall of Famer Louis Santop and pioneering sports writer Claire Smith, Olympic gold medal swimmer David Berkoff was selected.

Berkoff changed the world of swimming when he introduced his “Berkoff Blastoff” — a new way to speed off the starting blocks — as a backstroker in the 1980s. His start kept him under the water for 35-40 yards or meters.

He attended Penn Charter and moved to Harvard, where he won several Ivy League championships and was the 1987 and 1989 NCAA champion in the 100-yard backstroke.

He won two gold medals as part of relay teams in the 1988 and 1992 Olympics, as well as a silver medal in 1988 and a bronze in 1992, both in the 100-meter backstroke.

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Anonymous
Anonymous
5 years ago

Congatulations, Dave.!

Joe Seber
Joe Seber
5 years ago

I would like to purchase tix

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