Former NC State star Katharine Berkoff claims World title, other Pack standouts perform well

Each time former NC State swimming star Katharine Berkoff has been on a big stage over the years, she’s been able to perform at the highest level. The 2024 Olympic bronze medalist, five-time NCAA champion, six-time ACC title winner and a 30-time All-American added to her resume at the 2025 World Championships in Singapore. 

Berkoff, a backstroke specialist, claimed her first-ever World championship as she swam a 27.08 in the 50-meter backstroke to finish first. She just edged fellow American standout Regan Smith in the final for her second World medal after she finished third in the 100-meter backstroke just two days before. 

The Missoula, Mont., native’s World title-winning swim came off the heels of her American record 26.97 at the U.S. Championships in June. She has now earned 19 medals between Olympic and World Aquatics competitions in her young career. 

In addition to her two individual medals, Berkoff also walked away with a gold in the 4×100 medley relay after helping qualify the U.S. team in the preliminary rounds. 

While Berkoff was on the medal stand multiple times, she wasn’t the only current or former NC State swimmer in action at the World Championships. The Wolfpack had 11 other swimmers in the pool, looking for breakthrough performances of their own. 

Former Pack standout Nyls Korstanje, who represented the Netherlands, reached the podium with a second-place finish in the mixed 4×100 medley relay (3:42.56), with a sixth-place 50-meter butterfly, fifth in the men’s 4×100 medley relay and 20th in the 100 butterfly. 

Redshirt junior Quintin McCarty was the only American male to qualify for a backstroke final as he finished fifth in the 50-meter with a 24.58, a career-best Worlds finish. Incoming freshman Eneli Jefimova, meanwhile, logged a sixth-place finish in the 50-meter breaststroke (30.29) and a 10-place finish in 100-meter breaststroke (1:06.28).

Rising sophomore Arsen Kozhakhmetov, who swam for Kazakhstan, placed 42nd in the 50-meter breaststroke (27.97) and 45th in the 100-meter breaststroke (1:02.61) in his second-ever World Championships event. Fellow rising sophomore Sasha Zheltikov, a Ukrainian swimmer, placed ninth in the 100-meter backstroke, 33rd in 200-meter backstroke and 41st in 50-meter backstroke. Additionally, rising sophomore Kaii Winkler helped Germany’s 4×100 freestyle relay to a 10th-place finish.

Incoming freshman Bjørnar Grytnes Laskerud, a Norway native, placed 17th in the 100 freestyle and 41st in the 50 freestyle.

Recently graduated Wolfpack swimmer Olivia Nel, who represented South Africa, placed 23rd in 50 backstroke (28.23), while she helped three relays finish inside the top 20 (women’s 4×100 medley, 9th; women’s 4×100 freestyle, 12th; and the mixed 4×100 freestyle, 19th). 

Former NC State standout Brooke Travis recorded a seventh-place finish in the 4×1500-meter open water relay, while former Wolfpack star Sophie Hansson was 10th in 50 backstroke, 11th in the 4×100 medley relay and 29th in the 100 breaststroke for Sweden. One of Hansson’s former teammates, Andrea Podmanikova, logged a 29th-place finish in 50 backstroke and 40th in 100 backstroke for Slovakia.