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Community Corner

Meet 4-Time Olympic Gold Medalist Swimmer For Water Safety Month!

Kick off Water Safety Month in May with a big
splash! 

You can meet four-time Olympic Gold Medalist Swimmer Lenny Krayzelburg on one day only, Sunday May 4th, 9am - 1:00 pm at the Bernard Weinger JCC, 300 Revere Drive in Northbrook.

Bring family and friends for autographs and photos with Lenny.  THroughout the orning, children can receive a free swim evaluation and two FREE swim lessons when they register for a Lenny Krayzelburg Swim Academy (LKSA) swim program.  Reservations for a free swim evaluation are encouraged.  Visit:  www.gojcc.org/evaluation.

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"Kids want to spend time in the water, so making sure they are water safe is one of our main objectivs.  With our method, children develop a sense of comfort in the water, and then we teach strokes," Krayzelburg said.  "Students 3 months and up first learn basic skills, then mastery of the four competitive strokes:  freestyle, backstroke, breastroke and butterfly."    

Since 2005, Krayzelburg's highly successful, exclusively JCC, learn-to-swim program has taught thousands of children water safety and the importance of knowing how to swim.  His inspiration came from the excitement he observed of children taking swim lessons while he was training for the 2004 Olympics in California.

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"JCC selected the Lenny Krayzelburg program because it's based on best practices and the most advanced thinking in the field.  Low teacher to student ratio gives each child the personal attention they need to be successful," said Jacqueline Keane, JCC Chicago Assistant Director of Wellness.

"JCC Chicago's partnership with LKSA's high quality swim program of safety and skill demonstrates our commitment to supporting the diverse fitness and wellness needs of individuals and families in our community, and expands on JCC's commitment of service to families in the northern suburbs," said Alan Sataloff, JCC General Director and CEO.

Krayzelburg and his family emigrated from the Ukraine to Los Angeles in 1989.  LA's Westside JCC provided opportunity for Krayzelburg to hone his skills, and for his family to explore their Judaism.  Krayzelburg's first major swim competition was the 1990 Maccabi Youth Games.  In 2001, fresh off his three Olympic gold medals at the 200 Sydney games, Krayzelburg skipped the World Championships, opting instead to join the U.S> Team of the World Maccabiah Games in Israel, where he won a pair of gold medals.  His fourth Olympic gold medal came at the 2004 games in Athens.

"The World Maccabiah Games was my first experience in Israel," Krayzelburg said.  "It was a special time to be there as a Jew and I learned more about Jewish culture and history."

For more information about the May 4th event, contact Kim at 847-763-3604 or email:  lksachicago@gojcc.org.







 








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