{"id":407632,"date":"2025-09-24T05:43:54","date_gmt":"2025-09-24T12:43:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/?p=407632"},"modified":"2025-09-24T11:16:44","modified_gmt":"2025-09-24T18:16:44","slug":"when-the-backstroke-went-rogue-how-david-berkoff-and-underwater-power-changed-the-event","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/when-the-backstroke-went-rogue-how-david-berkoff-and-underwater-power-changed-the-event\/","title":{"rendered":"Seoul Anniversary: When the Backstroke Went Rogue – How Underwater Power Changed the Event"},"content":{"rendered":"

When the Backstroke Went Rogue – How Underwater Power Changed the Event<\/strong><\/p>\n

On Sept. 24, 1988, the final of the men’s 100 backstroke at the Olympic Games in Seoul unfolded. The event featured underwater power never seen before.<\/em><\/p>\n

*************************************<\/p>\n

Call it a game of hide and seek, an approach that left the coaches and officials on the deck guessing as much as the spectators who occupied the venue\u2019s seats. When would they surface? Who would come up first? What kind of advantage would be created? How much late-race damage would the strategy inflict?<\/p>\n

\"Suzuki-Olympics\"

Daichi Suzuki and David Berkoff at the 1988 Seoul Olympics Photo Courtesy: Daichi Suzuki<\/p><\/div>\n

It was at the 1988 Olympic Games in Seoul where Japan\u2019s Daichi Suzuki<\/strong>, in a battle with American David Berkoff<\/strong> and the Soviet Union\u2019s Igor Polyansky<\/strong>, raced to the gold medal in the 100-meter backstroke while submerged for nearly half of the race, including the opening 30 meters.<\/p>\n

How that moment arrived is a tale in itself.<\/p>\n

Ahead of His Time<\/h3>\n

When Jesse Vassallo\u2019s<\/strong> career is measured, it is always viewed from a what-if standpoint. Although not alone in the robbery he experienced\u2014with politicians serving as the thieves\u2014Vassallo was among the most impacted individuals by the United States boycott of the 1980 Olympic Games in Moscow. As a triple medalist at the 1978 World Championships, with gold medals earned in the 200 meter backstroke and 400 IM, Vassallo was expected to go to Moscow and shine on his sport\u2019s biggest stage.<\/p>\n

Instead, Vassallo was victimized by the decision of President Jimmy Carter<\/strong> to use America\u2019s Olympic athletes as political pawns. In protest of the Soviet Union\u2019s invasion of Afghanistan, Carter somehow thought not sending an Olympic team to Moscow would send a message. And in a way, a message was sent: Carter basically suggested that the athletes\u2019 years of dedication and hard work were meaningless.<\/p>\n

\"Jesse-Vassallo-1981\"

Photo Courtesy: Chris Georges<\/p><\/div>\n

For Vassallo, who was at the peak of his career, the boycott robbed him of the opportunity to put forth the greatest performances of his career. Exacerbating the situation was the fact that his world-record time in the 400 IM would have won gold by more than two seconds, and his best time in the 200 back would have won the silver medal. Instead? Nothing.<\/p>\n

As much as Vassallo is remembered for being denied the possibility of Olympic glory, he is also remembered as an innovator. In a sport frequented by giants, Vassallo was an anomaly, an athlete who could hold his own on the global stage despite standing only 5-feet-9-inches. The main negative of being on the small side\u2014and in lanes next to more powerful swimmers\u2014was being tossed around in his opposition\u2019s wake. So, Vassallo got an idea.<\/p>\n

\u201cI decided to do the underwaters coming off the starts, and it worked pretty well,\u201d Vassallo said in the documentary, How the Dolphin Kick Changed Swimming Forever<\/em>. \u201cAfter that, I continued to develop it and use it in my turns and stuff like that. I might be the one that originated and started this, but (others) really took it through to the Olympic level.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

The decision by Vassallo to utilize his underwater talent as an answer to a problem might have been innocent in its development. Ultimately, it eventually changed the sport.<\/p>\n

A Game-Changing Innovation<\/h3>\n

The flirtation with an extended underwater approach may have proven beneficial for Vassallo, but it didn\u2019t immediately catch on as a mainstream methodology. Still, there were a handful of athletes who dabbled with the tactic. Among them was Japan\u2019s Suzuki, who raced underwater for the first 25 meters of the preliminaries of the 100 backstroke at the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles. Suzuki, though, failed to advance to the final, which consequently left his willingness to try a unique strategy temporarily lost on the rest of the world.<\/p>\n

\"Suzuki-backstroke-takeoff\"

Daichi Suzuki launching into the 100-meter backstroke at the 1988 Seoul Olympics Photo Courtesy: Daichi Suzuki<\/p><\/div>\n

While Suzuki did not benefit from his unorthodox style at the Los Angeles Games, Berkoff recognized the potential of extended time spent underwater. A solid backstroker when he started his Harvard University career under Coach Joe Bernal<\/strong> in 1985, Berkoff spent more and more time experimenting with the dolphin kick, learning that he was faster underwater than on top of it. With the new approach fueling him, Berkoff saw his performances quicken, to the point where he set an NCAA record in the 100-yard backstroke in 1987.<\/p>\n

In the long-course pool, Berkoff honed his skill to a point in which he could remain underwater for 35 to 40 meters. Although oxygen debt certainly played a role for those racing underwater for lengthy periods, the advantage it provided offset the down-the-stretch struggles that arose. For Berkoff, the strategy led to a pair of world records at the 1988 United States Olympic Trials, where he became the first man in history to break the 55-second barrier in the 100 meter backstroke. After going 54.95 in prelims, Berkoff came back with an effort of 54.91 in the final, and he immediately became the man to beat for gold in Seoul, with the \u201cBerkoff Blastoff\u201d becoming his calling card.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen I first did it my freshman year, a lot of coaches ridiculed it,\u201d Berkoff said as a collegiate athlete. \u201cThey said, \u2018You\u2019re going to die the last lap.\u2019 But I\u2019ve expanded it every year. I don\u2019t think it\u2019s for everybody, but it\u2019s going to change the whole idea of backstroke sprinting.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Seoul Showdown<\/h3>\n

Once the 1988 Olympic Games in Seoul rolled around, extended underwaters were the norm, as footage of the 100 backstroke final shows five of the eight finalists surfacing beyond 25, and in some cases, 35 meters. But make no mistake. The final was undoubtedly a battle between Berkoff, Suzuki and Polyansky.<\/p>\n

Following a world-record swim of 54.51 in the preliminaries, Berkoff reaffirmed his status as the favorite in the final. At the midway point, Berkoff was in control, the gold medal within reach off the strength of 35 meters underwater. But Suzuki and Polyansky were within striking distance, also having spent the majority of the first lap submerged.<\/p>\n