World Championships, Day Five Finals: Katharine Berkoff and Regan Smith Go 1-2 for USA in 50 Backstroke
Katharine Berkoff claimed her first individual gold medal in the 50-meter backstroke at the World Championships in Singapore on Thursday night. After setting an American record and lowering her own U.S Open and Championship record in June, Berkoff delivered another standout performance on the international stage.
Standing beside her on the podium was teammate Regan Smith, who earned a silver medal to complete a Team USA 1-2 finish.
“It’s really special and a long time coming, I think,” Smith said. “Katharine is such a beast in this event. And I know that this is her first-ever world title, and that’s huge for her. And so I’m just excited to share that moment with her.”
Berkoff touched the wall in 27.08, just shy of her previous best of 26.97. Her consistency this summer has proven her ability to sprint across multiple distances. She improved with each swim this week, opening with a 27.59 in the prelims, before dropping to 27.37 in the semifinals. She closed with her fastest swim of the week to claim gold.
For the second time this week, the duo stood side by side on the podium, after previously medaling in the 100-meter backstroke, where Smith won silver and Berkoff earned bronze. Together, they have helped solidify Team USA’s excellence in the women’s backstroke events.
“I’m super excited,” Berkoff said. “It’s been a goal of mine for a long time, and it’s great to finally achieve that…I think it’s just every day in practice, working on those little details. My start has gotten a lot better this year, so I think that has helped improve my race a lot.”
Just 15 minutes after receiving her silver medal in the 200-meter butterfly, Smith returned to the blocks for the 50 backstroke, showcasing her remarkable range across strokes and distances.
“Doubles are never easy,” Smith said. “But I’m grateful that it was just a 50 backstroke, not 100 or 200. And the ready room for the 50 is really fun. There are a lot of great girls in there, and I love swimming with Katharine, so they gave me the energy to do what I needed to do. And I’m just excited to hear the anthem tonight.”
Bronze medalist Wan Letain of China had a strong swim, finishing just .05 behind Smith. She reflected on her podium finish and personal growth at the meet.
“I definitely was targeting being on top of the podium,” she said. “My performances have been among the world’s best. I wanted to be on the podium, and was definitely aiming for gold. Previously, at world meets, I’ve sometimes struggled with feeling confident in myself. This meet has helped me grow as an athlete.”
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