NANTERRE, FRANCE — Missoula native Katharine Berkoff is on the verge of winning an Olympic medal.
The Hellgate graduate placed second in the second heat of the women’s 100-meter backstroke semifinals on Monday afternoon at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Berkoff will enter the final on Tuesday ranked third, behind American Regan Smith and Australian Kaylee McKeown.
Berkoff came into the semifinals with the fastest qualifying time from Monday’s heats. She won her heat with a time of 57.99 seconds, setting her up for the semifinals. Smith, the current world record holder in the 100 backstroke at 57.13, posted the fastest time in the semifinals at 57.97, with McKeown finishing in 57.99.
The final for the women’s 100-meter backstroke will be held on Tuesday at 12:56 p.m. Mountain Time.
