David Berkoff is a swimmer who has competed for the United States. He competed at the 1988 and 1992 Summer Olympic Games.
Berkoff arrived at his first Olympics in 1988 as one of the world's top backstrokers. He also pioneered a new technique called the Berkoff Blastoff, where he could plunge after the push-off, not rising above the water until the 35 to 40-metre mark. Berkoff used his signature technique to lead the men's 100 metres backstroke heats and break his own world record. He continued to swim with the Berkoff Blastoff at the start of the final before Daichi Suzuki passed him at the final turn by a full body length and moved ahead towards the wall for the gold. Berkoff barely held off the fast-charging Igor Polianski by two hundredths of a second (0.02) to claim the silver. He also helped the American men break another world-record and solidify their title defense for the second consecutive streak in the 4x100 metres medley relay.
As Seoul 1988 ended, Berkoff's rare underwater start caused a rule change for backstrokers to plunge until 10 metres. Four years later in Barcelona, Berkoff snared a bronze in the 100 metres backstroke to hand the entire medal haul for the American men with a 2–3 finish, edging out the home favorite Martín López-Zubero of Spain by 0.18 seconds. He also contributed to the Americans' title defense for the third straight time in the men's 4x100 metres medley relay by swimming through the backstroke leg in the heats.
He is the father of Paris 2024 swimmer and two-time medalist Katharine Berkoff.
Olympic Results[]
Year | Event | Rank |
---|---|---|
1988 | Men's 100m backstroke | |
Men's 4x100m medley relay | ||
1992 | Men's 100m backstroke | |
Men's 4x100m medley relay |
1988[]
Discipline | Round | Time | |
---|---|---|---|
100 metres backstroke | Heats | 54.51 | WR |
A Final | 55.18 | ||
4x100 metres medley relay | Heats | 3:43.00 (55.69 split) |
|
Final | 3:36.93 (54.56 split) |
WR |
1992[]
Discipline | Round | Time | |
---|---|---|---|
100 metres backstroke | Heats | 54.84 | |
A Final | 54.78 | ||
4x100 metres medley relay | Heats | 3:39.84 (55.05 split) |
|
Final | 3:36.93 (Reserve) |
WR |