University Southern California Trojans
USC’s Lenny Krayzelburg To Receive NCAA Silver Anniversary Award
December 05, 2022 | Men's Swimming & Diving
Trojan great is one of six 2023 honorees for the prestigious honor, bestowed on the 25th anniversary of conclusion of their collegiate careers.
One of the most decorated and recognized Trojan swimmers in history, former USC backstroke specialist Lenny Krayzelburg has been selected as a recipient of the 2023 NCAA Silver Anniversary Award. A 1998 USC graduate, Krayzelburg followed up his impressive career as a Trojan with numerous World Records and Olympic gold medals. This years six awardees will be celebrated at the NCAA Honors Celebration on Jan. 11 in San Antonio
Lenny Krayzelburg was the 1997 NCAA 200-yard backstroke champion, a nine-time College Swimming and Diving Coaches Association of America All-American and a four-time Pac-12 champion. A team captain, he set school records in medley relays and backstroke specialties in 1997.
Krayzelburg pursued his swimming career professionally and from 1997-2008 acquired numerous medals, records and wins. The four-time Olympic gold medalist also won three gold medals at the 1998 and 2000 World Championships. He set five world records, including in the 50-, 100- and 200-meter backstroke. The 2004 Olympic team captain was named a finalist for the 1998 U.S. Olympic Committee SportsMan of the Year and was the 1999 and 2000 USA Swimmer of the Year. Krayzelburg was inducted into the University of Southern California's Athletic Hall of Fame, the Southern California Jewish Sports Hall of Fame in 2001, the International Jewish Sports Hall of Fame in 2008 and the International Swimming Hall of Fame in 2011. He was named to the Pac-12 all-century men's swimming and diving team in 2016. Krayzelburg became the general manager of the Los Angeles Current in the International Swimming League in 2019. He is the founder and CEO of the Lenny Krayzelburg SwimRight Academy, which provides water safety lessons and education to children of all ages across the United States. Krayzelburg, who immigrated to the United States as a teen during the Soviet era from what is now Ukraine to escape antisemitism, is a board member of Tikva Odessa, a rescue aid and education organization serving at-risk Jewish children in Ukraine. Lenny also serves as a board member for the American Friends of Israel Sport Center for the Disabled. He started the Lenny Krayzelburg Foundation, which works with youth and child welfare organizations to increase local swimming-based opportunities.
The third-ever USC swimmer to win the NCAA Silver Anniversary Award, Krayzelburg is the 16th overall Trojan to earn the award, joining such USC notables as Lynn Swann, John Naber, Pat Haden, Bruce Furniss and Rodney Peete. The last USC winner was Lisa Leslie in 2022.
The 2023 recipients are Peyton Manning, Phil Dawson, Allison Feaster, Dr. Marsha Harris and Kate Markgraf. Awardees were nominated by administrators at their undergraduate school and are selected by a panel of former student-athletes and representatives from NCAA member schools and conferences.
USC's NCAA Silver Anniversary Award Winners
1973 — John Ferraro (football)
1984 — Al Geiberger (golf)
1991 — Mike Garrett (football)
1993 — Stan Smith (tennis)
1999 — Lynn Swann (football)
2000 — Pat Haden (football)
2002 — John Naber (swimming)
2003 — Debbie Landreth Brown (volleyball)
2004 — Bruce Furniss (swimming)
2005 — Paul McDonald (football)
2007 — Bill Stetson (volleyball)
2010 — Jack Del Rio (football, baseball)
2014 — Rodney Peete (football, baseball)
2019 — Lisa Leslie (basketball)
2022 — Tina Thompson (basketball)
2023 — Lenny Krayzelburg (swimming)
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