PARIS, France — United States swimmer Katherine Berkoff, a student at North Carolina State University, won her first medal Tuesday.
Katharine Berkoff won the bronze medal when she finished third in the women's 100-meter swimming event with a time of 57.98.
Born in Missoula, MT, Berkoff is pursuing a graduate degree in fisheries, wildlife and conservation biology. She is a five-time NCAA Champion in 100m backstroke, a six-time ACC Champion for 100m backstroke and 400 medley relay and has been named an All-American. This is her first time competing in the Olympics.
Australian Kaylee McKeown took gold in the Tuesday event.
McKeown knocked off world-record holder Regan Smith of the United States in the 100 back on Tuesday night, defending the title she won at the Tokyo Games.
Smith, who broke McKeown's world mark with a time of 57.13 seconds at the U.S. trials last month, led at the turn but couldn't hold off the hard-charging Aussie, who defended the title she won in Tokyo three years ago.
McKeown surged to the front about halfway through the return lap and reached for the wall in 57.33, winning by a relatively comfortable margin over Smith's finish of 57.66.
Smith reached over the lane rope to congratulate McKeown, but this one had to sting. The 22-year-old Minnesota native appeared to be in top form after her performance and primed to win the first gold medal of her career.
Instead, it was McKeown capturing her fourth gold. She swept the backstroke events in Tokyo and also claimed a gold in a relay.
The Associated Press contributed to this report