LENNY'S LOVIN' LIFE INJURIES CAN'T STOP KRAYZELBURG COMEBACK.

Byline: Nathan Kurz Special to the Daily News

For a glimpse of how Lenny Krayzelburg's life has changed since he was a triple gold-medal winner for the U.S. at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, here is a quick fact worth remembering.

Several weeks before traveling to Athens to defend his title in the 100- backstroke, the 28 year-old Russian immigrant was not busy pondering his opponents or how to improve his stroke. Instead, he was creating a list of things he wanted to do during his brief time away from the pool.

Since becoming just the fourth man to win gold in both the 100- and 200-backstroke four years ago, Krayzelburg has overcome shoulder injuries and coaching changes to get back to the Olympics.

And unlike Sydney, Krayzelburg no longer is the favorite to win gold and break records. That distinction belongs to 20 year-old Aaron Piersol, who, at last month's Olympic Swim Trials in Long Beach, finished just four-hundredths of a second behind Krayzelburg's five-year standing record in the 100 backstroke (53:60).

Krayzelburg only managed to qualify for Athens by pulling from fourth to second place (54.60) in the last 20 meters of the qualifying race despite an injured left shoulder that kept him out of the 200-meter event.

``It's a completely different situation from four years ago,'' he said. ``It was a big uncertainty for me heading into the race (about whether I'd make it back). There were no guarantees. Now is when the most fun starts.''

Fun might not be the most apt word to describe Krayzelburg's experience since winning three gold medals at Sydney, including as the lead leg for the 4x100 American medley relay team.

But the years of wear and tear from swimming began to take a toll on Krayzelburg's body and in August of 2001, he had surgery to repair a slight labrum tear in his left shoulder.

To make matters worse, nearly a year later, in September 2002, Krayzelburg had to have surgery to repair the ACL in his left knee, which he injured after slipping on a treadmill.

Although he fully recovered from the knee injury, his left shoulder has continued to be a problem. When Krayzelburg would take swimming strokes, the tendons in his left shoulder slowly pulled apart. The labrum again came undone and was repaired a second time in June 2003.

``Some days there's pain, other days there isn't,'' said Krayzelburg, who figures his shoulder is about 80 percent healthy. ``It depends day-to-day, and I try to manage the pain.''

With his surgically-repaired shoulder and aging body, Krayzelburg began to notice he couldn't train at the same level of intensity that he did four years ago.

Last September, Krayzelburg parted with his coach of nine years, Mark Schulbert, and looked to develop a new training program with Dave Salo, who used to coach rival Piersol in Irvine.

``I realized if I wanted to get better, I'd have to change things,'' Krayzelburg said. ``I was being pushed too hard.''

Salo hasn't changed Krayzelburg's stroke much, though he temporarily altered shoulder angles as the swimmer's body continued to recover from surgery. At the swim trials, however, Krayzelburg went back to his old stroke, and found his old success, too.

``(Lenny) didn't have a whole lot of confidence the first couple of months he joined our program,'' Salo said. ``I was just hoping all the experience he put in the last 10 years of his career would come through.''

With the adversity he's overcome, Krayzelburg openly said winning gold this time would be even more meaningful.

Although Krayzelburg said he's ``85 percent'' certain he will retire after Athens, he's sure he's going to take a few years off from the sport to advance his life in other areas.

Krayzelburg has a fiance, Irinia, and started a mortgage company in Irvine in April. He also plans to become even more active in the Jewish community, to which he's had a strong connection for years.

Krayzelburg's parents, who moved the family to the United States from Odessa in 1989, in part to allow their son to pursue a swimming career are also happy a change is on the horizon.

``It's time for him to do something for his future,'' said Krayzelburg's mother, Yelena. ``We hope the best for Lenny. But he can't think about anything else when he's at the pool five, six hours a day. He needs to think about his future life now.''

CAPTION(S):

drawing/box, 4 photos

Drawing/Box:

HOMETOWN HEROES: LENNY KRAYZELBURG 

Sources: Associated Press; ``Sports, The Complete Visual Reference'' by Francoi Fortin

Jon Gerung/Staff Artist

Photo:

(1) LENNY KRAZYLBURG

(2) Speedo suits. 1914.

(3) Speedlite racing goggles.

(4) Fastskin FSII swimsuits.