Lenny Krayzelburg

Infobox Swimmer
swimmername=Lenny Krayzelburg


imagesize=
caption =
fullname = Leonid Krayzelburg
nicknames = "Lenny"
nationality = USA
strokes = Backstroke
club = Irvine Novaquatics
collegeteam = University of Southern California
birthdate = birth date and age|mf=yes|1975|9|28
birthplace = Odessa, Soviet Union
deathdate =
deathplace =
height = height|m=1.87
weight = convert|87|kg|lb
medaltemplates=

Lenny Krayzelburg (born September 28, 1975 as Leonid Krayzelburg; _ru. Леонид Крайзельбург) is an American backstroke swimmer.

Early years

Krayzelburg was born to Jewish parents in Odessa (then Soviet Union, now Ukraine). He and his family left the Soviet Union in 1989 for the United States. They settled in Los Angeles.

Here Krayzelburg's family suffered from financial difficulties. He had to commute by bus and foot 45 minutes each way to swimming practice, and didn't get home before 9:30 in the evening. In addition, Lenny had to cope with language problems, and to study English rapidly in order to understand his coaches' instructions. Thankfully he was aided by the extensive Russian community in Los Angeles, and managed to adapt quickly.

College

Lenny first attended Santa Monica College where he won both the 100 and 200 yard backstroke junior college titles. His coach at Santa Monica recognized his talent and recommended him to Mark Schubert at USC. Lenny transferred to the University of Southern California. In 1995, he became a naturalized citizen of the United States. Four years later, he became the first swimmer since 1986 to sweep the backstroke events, 100 m & 200 m, in the world championships. Later that month Krayzelburg broke both the 100 and the 200 m world records respectively, setting the clock on 53.60 and 1:55.87. He was then recognized as the top backstroke swimmer in the world and one of the best in the history of this swimming style. He continued to dominate at the Sydney 2000 Olympics backstroke, shattering the Olympic record and nearing his own 1999 world record with 53.72 in the 100 m, while making another Olympic record in the 200 m with 1:56.76. He also played an important role in helping the American team win a gold medal in the 4x100 m relay with a new world record of 3:33.73.

Maccabiah Games

After the Olympics Krayzelburg decided to skip the 2001 World Championships that took place in Fukuoka, Japan, in order to focus on the 2001 Maccabiah Games in Israel. Being Jewish, Krayzelburg wanted to take this once-in-a-lifetime chance to compete with other top Jewish athletes. In addition, he wanted to fulfill a childhood dream by visiting the holy land, and lifting the American delegate flag during the games' opening ceremony. He was selected to carry in the flag for the United States at the opening ceremonies. [http://72.14.209.104/search?q=cache:_n1hhBxR-gYJ:www.jewishjournal.com/home/preview.php%3Fid%3D7248+2001+%22Maccabiah+Games%22+gold+silver+bronze+russia+israel&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=9&gl=us] He then earned gold and set a new Maccabiah record in the 100-meter backstroke. He also won a gold medal in the 4 x 100 m medley relay.

Difficulties, perseverance

A couple of months later he had to undergo surgery on his left knee, following a fall while running on a treadmill, after which he had to take a year off swimming.

In September 2003, Krazelburg split from his coach Mark Schubert, to start training under Dave Salo, who also coached Aaron Peirsol. Peirsol was considered by many to be Krayzelburg's successor. Working with Salo, Krayzelburg changed the style of his stroke, particularly due to his shoulder injuries.

uccess

This turn in Krayzelburg's career proved to be successful. He finished second in the American trials for the 100 meters event to secure a place in the 2004 Athens Olympics, alongside training partner, Aaron Peirsol. His good shape enabled him to reach the finals. He came into this final knowing this might be his career's last, but missed out on a medal by just 2/100 of a second, with a qualitative result of 54.38, whereas Peirsol won gold with 54.06. Krayzelburg made up for the upset by helping the American team to win yet another Olympic gold in the 4 x 100 m relay, despite not swimming in the final of this event (he swam in the preliminary round, while Peirsol took his spot in the final).

Krayzelburg is known as one of the physically strongest swimmers around, and for his powerful arm strokes, a product of his training regimen and bodybuilder-esque physique. He is 6 feet 2 inches tall and weighs just above 187 lbs.

Lenny owes lots of his career achievements to his father Oleg, who has been a significant part of his success by repeatedly urging and pushing him to go on, even when Lenny wanted to quit at the age of 14. He enjoys reading as well as working with computers. Additionally, he was voted as 1999's USA swimmer of the year.

He owns a condominium in the Brighton Beach neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York.

In July 2005 Lenny opened two swim schools operating out of the JCC (Jewish Community Center) system. His main school is located in the Mid-city area of Los Angeles at the Westside Jewish Community Center while another operates out of the Milken Jewish Community Center in the West Hills area of the San Fernando Valley. Both schools teach the Smartfish Method and are flourishing.

External links

* [http://www.usolympicteam.com/26_807.htm Lenny Krayzelburg's U.S. Olympic Team bio]
* [http://www.usaswimming.org/USASWeb/DesktopModules/BioView.aspx?personid=8aace6d8-4bde-4941-9456-942fff95a2b6&TabId=388&Mid=597 Biography] at USA Swimming
* [http://www.usaswimming.org/USASWeb/ViewMiscArticle.aspx?TabId=280&Alias=Rainbow&Lang=en&mid=408&ItemId=1094 "20 Questions" with Lenny Krayzelburg] at USA Swimming
* [http://njycamps.org/tsc/html/lenny_krayzelburg_swimming_cam.html Lenny Krayzelburg Swim Camp]