Lenny Krayzelburg[a] (born Leonid Olehovych Krayzelburg,[b] September 28, 1975) is an American former backstroke swimmer, Olympic gold medalist, and former world record holder. He swam in the 2000 and 2004 Olympics,[1][2] winning a total of four Olympic gold medals.
Early years
editKrayzelburg is Jewish,[3] and was born to Jewish parents in Odesa, Ukrainian SSR (now Ukraine). Krayzelburg and his family left the Soviet Union in 1989 for the United States. They settled in Los Angeles.
After their immigration, Krayzelburg's family suffered from financial difficulties. He had to commute by bus and on foot 45 minutes each way to swimming practice, and did not 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
editLenny first attended Fairfax High School, and then attended Santa Monica College where he won both the 100 and 200-yard (180 m) backstroke junior college titles.[4] His coach at Santa Monica recognized his talent and recommended him to Mark Schubert at the University of Southern California. Lenny transferred to USC. In 1995, he became a naturalized citizen of the United States. Three years later, he became the first swimmer since 1986 to sweep the backstroke events, 100 m & 200 m, in the World Championships.
In 1999, Krayzelburg broke the 50, 100 and the 200 m world records respectively, setting the clock on 24.99, 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.[5]
He continued to dominate at the 2000 Summer Olympics backstroke, shattering the Olympic record and nearing his own 1999 world record with 53.72 in the 100, while making another Olympic record in the 200 with a 1:56.76. He also played an important role in helping the American team win a gold medal in the 4 × 100 m relay with a new world record of 3:33.73.[6]
Maccabiah Games
editAfter 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.[7] He then earned gold and set a new Maccabiah record in the 100-meter backstroke. He also won a gold medal in the 4×100-meter medley relay.
At the 2017 Maccabiah Games, in the special 4×50m relay race between Israeli and American all-star teams, American Olympic champions Krayzelburg, Jason Lezak (four Olympic golds), and Anthony Ervin (three Olympic golds), with masters swimmer Alex Blavatnik, swam a time of 1:48.23 and defeated Israeli Olympians Guy Barnea, Yoav Bruck, Eran Groumi, and Tal Stricker, who had a time of 1:51.25.[8]
Difficulties, perseverance
editThis section of a biography of a living person does not include any references or sources. (May 2023) |
A couple of months later he had to undergo surgery on his left shoulder, 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.[9]
See also
edit
- List of multiple Olympic gold medalists
- List of multiple Olympic gold medalists at a single Games
- List of Olympic medalists in swimming (men)
- List of select Jewish swimmers
- List of University of Southern California people
- List of World Aquatics Championships medalists in swimming (men)
- World record progression 50 metres backstroke
- World record progression 100 metres backstroke
- World record progression 200 metres backstroke
- World record progression 4 × 100 metres medley relay
Notes
editReferences
edit- ^ Slater, Robert (2000). Great Jews in sports. J. David Publishers. ISBN 9780824604332. Retrieved January 7, 2011.
- ^ Goldman, David J. (2006). Jewish Sports Stars: Athletic Heroes Past and Present. Kar-Ben. ISBN 9781580131834. Retrieved January 7, 2011.
- ^ Taylor, Paul (2004). Jews and the Olympic Games: The Clash Between Sport and Politics : with a Complete Review of Jewish Olympic Medallists. Sussex Academic Press. ISBN 9781903900871.
- ^ "Meet Olympic Gold-Medal Winner Lenny Krayzelburg: LK Swim Academy Comes to JCC". July 2011.
- ^ Taylor, Paul (2004). Jews and the Olympic Games: the clash between sport and politics : with a complete review of Jewish Olympic medallists. Sussex Academic Press. ISBN 9781903900871. Retrieved January 7, 2011.
- ^ The Swim Coaching Bible. Human Kinetics. 2001. p. 156. ISBN 9780736036467. Retrieved January 7, 2011.
Lenny Krayzelburg swimmer.
- ^ "Maccabiah Games"
- ^ "Records fall as Olympians shine at Maccabiah Games," The Jerusalem Post.
- ^ Cowley, Michael (June 23, 2006). "Thorpe heads to US for three-month training stint". The Age. Retrieved March 2, 2024.
External links
edit- Lenny Krayzelburg at the U.S. Olympic Team at the Wayback Machine (archived 2008-05-12)
- Lenny Krayzelburg at Olympics.com
- Lenny Krayzelburg at Olympics at Sports-Reference.com (archived)
- Lenny Krayzelburg (USA) – Honor Swimmer profile at International Swimming Hall of Fame at the Wayback Machine (archived 2012-03-13)
- Lenny Krayzelburg Swim Camp – Official webpage of Krayzelberg's swim camp at the Wayback Machine (archived 2010-04-29)
- Lenny Krayzelburg Swim School – Official webpage of Krayzelberg's swimming school - SwimRight Academy Los Angeles
- Lenny Krayzelburg Swim School Miami – Official webpage of Krayzelberg's swimming school - SwimRight Academy Miami