Kesher Talk

As a young, Jewish child growing up in Odessa, Ukraine, in the former Soviet Union, Lenny Krayzelburg was faced with many challenges. A major issue was anti-Semitism, and this brought the Krayzelburg family to the United States in 1989.

... He had begun swimming at the age of 8, and, by the time he was 10, Krayzelburg was swimming five hours a day. In addition, he was lifting weights and running, a workout regimen that many U.S. swimmers do not encounter until they get to college.

At the age of 14, two years after Krayzelburg realized he had a special talent for swimming, he had to put his athletic career on hold during and immediately after his family's migration. He worked as a lifeguard at an LA area Jewish Community Center and attended a high school that had no swimming team.

Krayzelburg did not let his dreams fade, though. He enrolled at Santa Monica College and after one season won the state junior college title.

When asked where he went to college, though, Krayzelburg responded, "I went to USC (University of Southern California) and studied finance." That is because soon thereafter he worked out for USC swimming coach Mark Schubert, who accepted Krayzelburg into his program and told the young man that he had the potential to be the best in the world.

Krayzelburg said he settled on the backstroke soon after he began swimming seriously. "At a young age, it was the best for me," he said. "I have seen the most improvements, and it is comfortable for me."

With USC, Krayzelburg won the national collegiate backstroke title in 1997, followed by a world title in 1998. "They were obviously satisfying experiences," he said. "I have dedicated a lot of years and am very proud of my career. It is good to set goals and make them."

He also set world records in 1999. Krayzelburg holds the world records for the 100-meter (53.60 seconds) and 200-meter (1:55.87) backstroke. He set both records at the 1999 Pan Pacific Championships in Sydney. In addition, he was named as the USA Swimming Swimmer of the Year as well as the Swimming World magazine's Male American Swimmer of the Year in 1999.

posted by William @ 10/31/2003 08:54:58 AM