By Robert Gibbs on SwimSwam
2026 PAN PACIFIC CHAMPIONSHIPS
August 12-15, 2026 Irvine, California William Woollett Jr. Aquatics Center LCM (50 meters) Meet Central Psych Sheets Live Results Live Stream (USA Swimming YouTube) Recaps Prelims: Day 1 | Day 2 Finals: Day 1Tonight in Irvine, American backstroke Katharine Berkoff broke her own U.S. Open, American Record, and Pan Pacific Championship Records with a win in the 50m backstroke at the 2026 Pan Pacific Championships. Swimming out of lane 4, Berkoff got her hand on the wall 0.24s quicker than teammate Regan Smith to win with a 26.90.
Berkoff had previously set the U.S. Open and American Records at 26.97 with her swim at last summer’s US Nationals. This morning, Berkoff swam a 27.04 to set a new meet record and take the top seed. Tonight, she swam side-by-side with Smith, who took 2nd in 27.14, just a hair off her own PB (and previous American Record) of 27.10 from 2023.
Berkoff’s previous best time had been the 2nd-fastest swim ever when she swam it last summer, but the event has taken a strong leap forward this summer. Four of the five fastest swims ever have come in the last few days, including two world record-setting swims from Italy’s Sara Curtis. Berkoff’s swim tonight stands as the 4th-fastest performance ever.
All-Time Performances, Women’s 50m Backstroke (LCM)
Sara Curtis (ITA), 2026 – 26.56 Sara Curtis (ITA), 2026 – 26.63 Kaylee McKeown (AUS), 2023 – 26.86 Katharine Berkoff (USA), 2026 – 26.90 Alina Gaifutdinova (RUS), 2026 – 26.91In terms of all-time top performers, Berkoff moved back past Russia’s Alina Gaifutdinova, who set that mark in the semi-finals at the European Championships just the other day.
All-Time Performers, Women’s 50 Backstroke (LCM)
Sara Curtis (ITA), 2026 – 26.56 Kaylee McKeown (AUS), 2023 – 26.86 Katharine Berkoff (USA), 2026 – 26.90 Alina Gaifutdinova (RUS), 2026 – 26.91 Xiang Liu (CHN), 26.98This is the second-straight summer where Berkoff has won gold in the USA’s primary international meet of the year. She’s the reigning Worlds champion in the 50 back after winning with a 27.08 last summer.
The former NC State swimmer also won the 100 back last night, again just touching out Smith. Berkoff appears to be done with individual events for the meet; she doesn’t currently appear on the 50 free heat sheets, but with double gold to her name, she seems likely to get the nod to swim backstroke for the US women’s medley relay on Saturday.
Read the full story on SwimSwam: Katharine Berkoff Breaks Own American, U.S. Open Records with 26.90 to Win the 50 Back
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