We sat in front of televisions, watching Berkoff disappear, reappear and touch the final wall. The NBC graphics flashed the time: "54.51." A new world record.

We watched the finals. Japan's Daichi Suzuki, the Soviet Union's Igor Polanski and Berkoff. Suzuki and Polasnki burst off the blocks. Berkoff started out slow, but his underwater motions kept him close.

Suzuki won the race with a time of 55.05. Berkoff finished in at 55.18.

The gold came later in the 4x100 medley relay. Starting the first leg, Berkoff blasted off, and Suzuki and Polanski watched. They were never close. Berkoff recorded the fastest backstroke in relay history, 54.56. Teammates Rick Schroeder, Chris Jacobs and Matt Biondi closed out the final three legs.

Berkoff had his gold medal. We knocked over the television sets.

He has traveled around the world. He has trained to become the world's fastest backstroker in the 100 meters. All that is left is this weekend at Blodgett. And the NCAA Championships at Indianapolis on March 30-April 1.

He is almost there.

But first this weekend's Easterns.

"Dave to our team is like Larry Bird to the Celtics. When he's in the water, it gives the team an added dimension which strengthens it greatly," Harvard Coach Joe Bernal said. "At Princeton, he was able to race in events which aren't his best for the team's sake and he didn't complain about it at all."

"But the effect he has out of the water is even more important," Bernal added. "Dave creates an atmosphere on the team where everybody is an equal player."

Berkoff will have one more weekend at Harvard to create the atmosphere that his coach and teammates know so well.

But eventually, he will be there. Away from the world of swimming. The world he captivated.

It will soon be over for Berkoff. Except for all his memories.