In brief
Leonid "Lenny" Krayzelburg (born September 28, 1975) is an American former competitive swimmer specializing in backstroke events, renowned for securing four Olympic gold medals and setting multiple world records during his career.
Born in Odessa, in the Soviet Union (now Ukraine), Krayzelburg emigrated with his family to the United States in 1989 at the age of 13 to escape anti-Semitism, settling in Los Angeles where he began serious swimming training. He became a naturalized U.S. citizen in 1995 and attended the University of Southern California, competing for the USC Trojans swim team.
In 1989, at the age of 13, Lenny Krayzelburg and his family emigrated from Odessa in the Soviet Union to escape pervasive antisemitism, including verbal abuse at school where he was derogatorily called "zhid," and to seek better opportunities amid the fear of mandatory military service. The family's departure was facilitated by the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society (HIAS), which provided critical support during the last major wave of Soviet Jewish migration.
During this adjustment period, Krayzelburg began his swimming experiences in the United States at age 14, joining the pool at the Westside Jewish Community Center and a swim team in Santa Monica, which provided both recreation and a pathway for cultural adaptation. He commuted about 45 minutes each way by bus and on foot to practices, often returning home late in the evening.
