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Lenny Krayzelburg Profile |
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Birth Date: September 28, 1975
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Birth Place: Odessa, Ukraine
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Birth Name: Lenny Krayzelburg
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Height: 6'2"
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Biography |
Lenny Krayzelburg is an American backstroke swimmer.
Krayzelburg was born to Jewish parents in Odessa (formerly
in the Soviet Union, now in Ukraine), on September 28, 1975.
He and his family left the Soviet Union in 1989, to look for
new opportunities in 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.
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.
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 1.88 m tall and weighs just above 85 kg.
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. |
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Other Information |
Four-time Olympic Gold Medalist (3 in 2000, 1 in 2004)
Attended the University of Southern California.
Born in the Soviet Union, but moved to the United States in
1989, and became a U.S. Citizen in 1995
1999 & 2000 USA Swimming "Swimmer of the Year"
Holds world record in 100m Backstroke (53.60 seconds -
8/27/99)
Inducted into the International Jewish Sports Hall of Fame
in 2005.
Inducted into the National Jewish Sports Hall of Fame in
2006. |
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since May 10, 2008