Shmirat ha-Guf Hero: Lenny Krayzelburg Success, Success, and More Success Lenny went to Santa Monica College, where he won both the 100- and 200yard backstroke junior college titles. On recommendation from his coach, Lenny transferred to U.S.C. and in 1995 became a naturalized citizen. In August of 1999 he broke three world records and won three gold medals at the Pan American Pacific Championships. At the Sydney Olympics Krayzelburg won the gold in the 100-meter backstroke, the 200-meter backstroke and the 400-meter medley relay, breaking two Olympic records in the process. In 2004 he finished second in the American trials and secured a place in the Athens Olympics. He missed out on a medal by just .02 second. Krayzelburg made up for this by helping the American team to win yet another Olympic gold in the 4 x 100m relay.
From Soviet Training Program to the JCC Lenny was born in Odessa, Russia in 1975. He was part of the Soviet Union’s Olympic training program. At nine years old he was practicing five hours a day. His parents, Oleg and Yelena, were concerned about their son’s future. They felt his chances for success would be greater in America. He and his family left the Soviet Union in 1989.
A Jewish Athelete Being Jewish, Krayzelburg wanted to take the once-in-a-lifetime chance to compete with other top Jewish athletes at the 2001 Maccabiah Games in Israel. It was his childhood dream to visit Israel. He was selected to carry the flag for the United States team. He earned a gold medal and set a new Maccabiah record in the 100-meter backstroke. He also won a gold medal in the 4 x 100m medley relay.
Lenny said, “As a Jew growing up in Russia, I never faced much anti-Semitism. A few times I was called names. But my parents knew that because I was a Jew, my opportunities would be limited there — in sports especially.” In America, Krayzelburg found an aquatic home at the Westside Jewish Community Center in Los Angeles. Two weeks after he arrived in the United States he was back in the water.
While Krayzelburg has had no Jewish education and celebrates only the holiday of Yom Kippur by going to synagogue, he is interested in his Jewish roots. “Being Jewish is a part of me. It’s a part of my culture. I find it fascinating, and I want to learn as much about it as possible. I hope to raise my own children with more religion. I hope to sometime become involved in charitable causes in the Jewish community.”
Hard Times The Krayzelburg family suffered from financial difficulties. Lenny had to travel forty-five minutes each way to swimming practice and didn’t get home before 9:30. He had to study English rapidly in order to understand his coaches’ instructions. Aided by the Russian Jewish community, he managed to adapt quickly.
And Some Say Teach Them to Swim
At fourteen, when the JCC could not provide him with the challenges he needed, Lenny was tempted to give it all up, but his father talked him out of it.
In July 2005 Lenny opened swimming schools operating out of the JCC (Jewish Community Center) system. Lenny lives shmirat ha-guf and helps others to do so. 21
