|
 |   |
EVENTS Fantasy Central Inside Game Multimedia Central Statitudes Your Turn Message Boards Email Newsletters Golf Guide Cities Work in Sports
CNNSI.com GROUP
COMMERCE |  |
Rising star Krayzelburg looks to realize American dream
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) -- Lenny Krayzelburg is a star in the making. All he needs are two Olympic gold medals and the Ukrainian-born swimmer, who didn't speak English 11 years ago, can realize his American dream. Krayzelburg goes for his first Olympic berth when he swims the 100-meter backstroke Friday night at the U.S. trials. He tuned up with the fastest qualifying time in Thursday's preliminaries. "I feel confident I can swim fast enough to be the best," he said. His past performances certainly back him up. Krayzelburg set the world and American records of 53.60 seconds last August. "This is an important meet for me to make a statement," he said. The 24-year-old moved to the United States from Odessa, Ukraine, in 1989, and became an American citizen in 1995. He trains at the University of Southern California, and lives close to his parents in Studio City. Krayzelburg speaks with barely any trace of a Russian accent, and that, along with his blond hair, blue eyes and amicable personality have already made him a hit with sponsors. Even before he boards a plane for Sydney, Krayzelburg has seven endorsement deals that earn him a reported six-figure income. Two gold medals could launch him into the superstar category. "Hopefully I will do well enough to deal with that afterward," he said. "I try not to think about the pressure. Nothing is really for sure until you touch the wall." The top two finishers in most events make the Olympic team, which means many swimmers are as happy with second as they are with first at trials. Not Krayzelburg. "Second is just as good as first, except for me," he said. "I want to come in here and establish myself." Last month, Krayzelburg was upset by 17-year-old Aaron Peirsol in the 200 backstroke at a meet in Los Angeles. It was Krayzelburg's first loss in the event in two years. "I went out too fast and I was struggling," he said. "With rest, I felt my body was going to come around." Krayzelburg and Peirsol will meet in Friday's 100 back final, but Peirsol's stronger event is the 200 backstroke, where he and Krayzelburg will swim prelims Sunday. Neil Walker may have something to say about Krayzelburg's finish in the 100. Walker, who qualified second for the final, set a world record in the 100 at this year's short course world championships. "That was a huge turning point for me," he said. "I have a lot of confidence going into the trials." The women backstrokers will share Friday's spotlight with their male counterparts. B.J. Bedford, who's medaled in every major international meet outside the Olympics, leads the field for the women's 100 final. Among her near-misses at three previous trials was a third-place finish in '96. Bedford's mother, Jane, decided to stay home this week. "My mom thinks it's her fault I haven't qualified," Bedford said. "She thinks she jinxed me in '88, '92 and '96." Bedford took six months off after the '96 trials only to be tortured by having the Atlanta Olympics on TV at the sports bar in Austin, Texas, where she worked pouring drinks. "I was like, 'Get that crap off the TV,'" she said, laughing. Also Friday are finals in the men's 200 freestyle and the women's 100 breaststroke, where 16-year-old Megan Quann lowered her own American record in Thursday's prelims. Josh Davis, whose three relay golds in Atlanta were the most by any man, briefly threatened Matt Biondi's 12-year-old American record during Thursday's 200 free prelims.
| ||||||||||||||||||||
