David Berkoff

David Charles "Dave" Berkoff (born November 30, 1966) is an American former competition swimmer, Olympic champion, and former world record-holder in two events. Berkoff was a backstroke specialist who won a total of four Olympic medals during his career at two different Olympic Games. He is best known for his powerful underwater start, the eponymous "Berkoff Blastoff".

David Berkoff

Personal information
Full name	David Charles Berkoff
Nickname(s)	"Dave"
National team	United States
Born	(1966-11-30) November 30, 1966 Abington, Pennsylvania
Height	5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)
Weight	154 lb (70 kg)
Sport
Sport	Swimming
Strokes	Backstroke
Club	Bernal's Gator Swim Club
College team	Harvard University
Medal record Men's swimming Representing the United States Olympic Games 1988 Seoul 4x100 m medley 1992 Barcelona 4x100 m medley 1988 Seoul 100 m backstroke 1992 Barcelona 100 m backstroke Pan American Games 1987 Indianapolis 100 m backstroke Summer Universiade 1987 Zagreb 4x100 m medley 1987 Zagreb 100 m backstroke

At the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul, South Korea, he won a gold medal by swimming the backstroke leg for the winning U.S. men's team in the men's 4×100-meter medley relay in the event final. Individually, he also won a silver medal by placing second in the men's 100-meter backstroke event.

Four years later at the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona, Spain, Berkoff earned another gold medal by swimming for the winning U.S. team in the preliminary heats of the men's 4×100-meter medley relay. He also won a bronze medal by placing third in the 100-meter backstroke.

Berkoff was inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame as an "Honor Swimmer" in 2005.[1]