David Berkoff

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Medal record
David Berkoff
Men’s Swimming
Competitor for the United States
Olympic Games
Gold	1988 Seoul	4x100m Medley
Gold	1992 Barcelona	4x100m Medley
Silver	1988 Seoul	100m Backstroke
Bronze	1992 Barcelona	100m Backstroke
Pan American Games
Silver	1987 Indianapolis	100m Backstroke

David Charles Berkoff (born November 30, 1966 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) is a former backstroke swimmer from the United States, who won a total number of four Olympic medals during his career.

Berkoff revolutionized backstroke swimming, with his underwater start-and-turn, a move which stirred debate amongst athletes and officials and caused the world's governing swimming body FINA to make an adaptation to the rules governing the amount of the time a swimmer can remain under water after a start-and-turn. His so called "Berkoff Blastoff", as his under water submarine dolphin kick became known, earned him Olympic medals and World Records and caused every backstroke swimmer following him to learn the kick in order to win and set records. His start-and-turn is one of the sport's top innovations that has led to faster times.

On August 13, 1988 at the U.S. Olympic Trials, Berkoff broke Igor Polyansky’s (URS) 100 m backstroke world record with a 54.95 in the preliminary heat, and again in the finals with a 54.91. He broke the record a third time a month and a half later at the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul, South Korea with a 54.51 in the preliminary heats. Berkoff was expected to win the 100 m backstroke at the Seoul Olympics, but he was stunned in the final by Japan's Daichi Suzuki, who used the same underwater-technique.

Berkoff held the world record for three years before it was broken by USA’s Jeff Rouse. Berkoff was the first swimmer to go under 55 seconds for the distance. All totaled in Olympic competition, Berkoff had won two gold medals, one silver and one bronze medal. He set three backstroke world records, was on a world-record setting medley relay team and is best known today as the man who revolutionized the stroke. Today he is a lawyer living, working and coaching in Missoula, Montana. He and fellow Olympian Matt Biondi are co-founders of the Delphys Foundation for Marine Study, specifically the study of dolphins and whales in their natural habitat.

In 2005 Berkoff was inducted in the International Swimming Hall of Fame. David Berkoff was coached by Coach Joseph Bernal, currently coaching Bernal's Gator Swim Club, which is based in Waltham.