Lenny Krayzelburg facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Lenny Krayzelburg

Personal information
Native name	Ленні Крайзельбург
Birth name	Leonid Olehovych Krayzelburg
Born	(1975-09-28) September 28, 1975 (age 49) Odesa, Ukrainian SSR, Soviet Union (now Ukraine)
Height	6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Weight	192 lb (87 kg)
Sport
Sport	Swimming
Strokes	Backstroke
Club	Irvine Novaquatics
College team	University of Southern California
Coach	Mark Schubert
Medal record Men's swimming Representing the  United States Event 1st 2nd 3rd Olympic Games 4 0 0 World Championships (LC) 2 1 0 World Championships (SC) 1 1 0 Pan Pacific Championships 6 0 0 Maccabiah Games 2 0 0 Goodwill Games 1 2 0 Olympic Games Gold 2000 Sydney 100 m backstroke Gold 2000 Sydney 200 m backstroke Gold 2000 Sydney 4×100 m medley Gold 2004 Athens 4×100 m medley World Championships (LC) Gold 1998 Perth 100 m backstroke Gold 1998 Perth 200 m backstroke Silver 1998 Perth 4×100 m medley World Championships (SC) Gold 2000 Athens 4×100 m medley Silver 2000 Athens 50 m backstroke Pan Pacific Championships Gold 1997 Fukuoka 100 m backstroke Gold 1997 Fukuoka 200 m backstroke Gold 1997 Fukuoka 4×100 m medley Gold 1999 Sydney 100 m backstroke Gold 1999 Sydney 200 m backstroke Gold 1999 Sydney 4×100 m medley Maccabiah Games Gold 2001 Israel 100 m backstroke Gold 2001 Israel 4×100 m medley Goodwill Games Gold 1998 New York 200 m backstroke Silver 1998 New York 100 m backstroke Silver 1998 New York 4×100 m medley

Lenny Krayzelburg (born Leonid Olehovych Krayzelburg , 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, winning a total of four Olympic gold medals.

Early years

Krayzelburg is Jewish, 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

Lenny 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. 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.

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.

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. 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.

Difficulties, perseverance

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.

See also

In Spanish: Lenny Krayzelburg para niños

• 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