THE SEOUL GAMES / DAY 8 : IT’S ALL IN THE KICK : Berkoff Sets World Record in Backstroke; Wayte Disqualified for Using Illegal Kick

David Berkoff swam the first 35 meters of the 100-meter backstroke underwater, using the unique strategy once again to dolphin-kick himself into a strong lead that carried to him another world record during a qualifying heat Saturday morning.

According to the judges, U.S. teammate Mary Wayte used a similar kick during the breaststroke leg of her 200-meter individual medley heat and was disqualified. The dolphin kick is illegal in the breaststroke.

Berkoff qualified first for Saturday night’s finals in 54.51 seconds, breaking his own world record of 54.91 set during the U.S. trials in Austin 5 weeks ago.

Berkoff, a Harvard student just starting to make his impact on the international level, qualified well ahead of Soviet veteran Igor Polianski, holder of the world record until Berkoff burst onto the scene. Polianski qualified second in 55.04.

Wayte had qualified third in the women’s 200-meter individual medley in 2:15.71 when she was disqualified for using what two judges determined to be an illegal dolphin kick on the breaststroke leg.

U.S. Coach Richard Quick attempted to file a protest to explain that although Wayte’s feet sometimes break the surface of the water as she completes the frog-like kick, and then drop straight down, she is not dolphin-kicking, but he was told he could not protest a judgement call.

The disqualification of Wayte moved U.S. swimmer Whitney Hedgepeth into eighth place and into the final heat Saturday night.

Also on Saturday morning, in qualifying for the top spot in the men’s 50-meter freestyle, Matt Biondi established the Olympic record for this new Olympic event at 22.39.

Almost every American in the Olympic Indoor Swimming Pool cheered. Not Tom Jager. Jager’s light green eyes had a very hard look.

The 50-meter freestyle is Jager’s event, just as the 100 is Biondi’s.

Jager has dominated the 50, claiming world bests and world records while waiting for the 50 to be included in the Olympic Games.

Jager holds the world record of 22.23 for the sprint that’s just one length of the pool, full speed ahead.

His qualifying time of 22.61, which left him in a tie for third place, should not be taken as a sign that he’s off his game. He’s always slower in morning than he is when the real race is on the line. His psyching up routine isn’t even the same in the morning. He stretches his long, muscular arms and swings them to loud, popping claps front and back.

But he skips the part where he takes deep breaths and huffs and puffs and shouts. He skips the part where he dips a hand into the pool and throws water up on his face, splashing--and sometimes irritating--any competitor who doesn’t have the sense to stand clear.

“He doesn’t do all that (in qualifying),” said Ron Ballatore, Jager’s Bruin Swim Club coach. “He saves it. He’ll be a different person when it’s time for the final.”