name: Belinda

swimmer: Matt Dunn

date: 13/09/2000

encounter: I was lucky enough to meet my favourite swimmer of all time, Matt Dunn, when he lit the cauldron for the olympics at Pennant Hills Park in Sydney. After he had lit the cauldron i followed him and jumped over the fence where Matt was surrounded by police. I screamed out his name and asked for a photo with him. My legs felt like jelly and i was just sooo excited to be standing that close to him. He was very sweet just like i thought he would be. My face was lit up with a grin from ear to ear for the rest of the day.

Submit date: Thu, 4 Jan 2001 08:34:01 -0500 (EST)

name: Tania

swimmer: Daniel Kowalski

date: 6/10/00

encounter: After waiting 4 years and many failed attempted meetings i finally got to meet my hero of the pool Daniel kowalski at the short course championships. His a great guy, really friendly, made the wait really worth while. I also meet other swimmers like Michael Klim, Chris Fydler and heaps more, if you wanna meet them go to them less known about meets they just mix with the crowd.

Submit date: Thu, 4 Jan 2001 15:51:09 -0500 (EST)

name: ash

swimmer: Tom Dolan, Lenny Krayzelburg

date: nov. 4-11 2000

encounter: November 4th I went on a cruise to the Caribbean and my cousin told me about this swimmer Lenny Krayzelburg that was on our ship. SO that night on the ship there was a sports show so we went to it and they introduced all the athletes that were on the cruise. So I saw who Lenny Krayzelburg was and Tom Dolan. Now I had to get their autographs!

So my cousin and I were walking around the ship, we went up to the Basketball court area and I looked and was like Oh My god that's Lenny Krayzelburg and Tom DOlan, they were playing basketball. I wanted to play basketball with them but my cousin wouldn't, so we watched their game they had for like a hour. After the game was over Lenny was standing there looking really good (with no shirt on) hehehe. I went up to him and said "Can I have your autograph" He said " SUre,Whats your name" I said "Ashley" he said "L-E-Y?" I saw " Yeah" He wrote "Ashley,Follow your dreams, Lenny Krayzelburg" then i said "THank you".

The next day they had another basketball game and I was on the balcony above them and i gave my camera to my mom and she took great pictures of Lenny and Tom (they had no shirts on omg!..lol) Then We went down to the court cause my cousin wanted Lennys autograph, so it took her like 10 minutes to get the guts to go up to him,finally she did. Then we still had to get Toms autograph, Then after the game was over Tom was sitting down talking to a bunch of guys and i Walked over to them with my cousin and said "Excuse me, can i please have your autograph" Hes said "sure,whats your name" I said "ashley", then my cousin got his auto , he was really nice.

Then one night on the cruise Lenny and TOm had a question and ask show, we went but not alot of people were there. I got tons of pictures. Then 2 days later they had a autograph signing so my cousin, i and my cousin went because! we still wanted to get our picture taken with them. So I got 3 different pictures with them. THen the last night, my cousin and i were walking out of the store on the ship and my cousin like walked right into Lenny and his g/f (they were going to dinner) my cousin turned around and says " oh my god was that lenny" so loud he heard her. LOL.

SOrry this was so long!That was my encounter. i Aslo met many other athletes.

sumbit date: Thu, 4 Jan 2001 20:43:20 -0500 (EST)

name: kjc

swimmer: daniel kowalski

date: 1996/99

encounter: I have met Daniel Kowalski a couple of times. The first was at the basketball where I had seen him heaps of times before but this day was game two of the grandfinal and I went up to say hello and get a photo. He was more than happy to do this and he grabbed me around the waist and smiled for the camera and when it didn't work he didn't move until a photo was taken. Unfortunately for me it didn't come out in the end and the next time I saw him I told him it was because of the evil Magic singlet he was wearing (I'm a Tiger) and he just laughed with me. I have also seen him a few times at the Australian Open Tennis in Melbourne just walking around or watching matches and he is always approachable and nice, not like some others. So that's my DK story, hope it wasn't too boring.

submit date: Sun, 14 Jan 2001 19:59:57 -0500 (EST)

name: Tash

swimmer: Daniel Kowalski

date: 25/10/97

encounter: I have been a big fan of Dan's for a few years now and I was delighted when I discovered he was coming to Hobart for the "Hobart Aquatic Gifts" in October, 1997. I am a big swimming fan and there were many Aussie swimmers there, but the only one I was interested in meeting was Daniel Kowalski. I got his autograph and had my photo taken with him, which is now framed in my bedroom. I was absolutely thrilled. It wasn't until I got home that afternoon that I realised I should have taken the opportunity to meet the other swimmers who were there and got their photos also. I was so focussed on meeting Dan, that I had walked straight past some of the others including Susie O'Neill, Sam Riley and many more.

My second encounter with Dan was a couple of years ago and it was very different. My auntie rang me from Melbourne one night (I am from Hobart) and said she was at the basketball, and asked if I could guess who was there. It was Daniel Kowalski and she passed him the phone and he was talking to me on the phone! I was just so shocked that I didn't know what to say! I was talking to him for a few minutes and then he said he had to go and gave the phone back to my auntie. I couldn't believe it! I got off the phone and said to Mum "You'll never guess who I was just talking to..."

submit date: Wed, 14 Feb 2001 09:09:55 -0500 (EST)

name: Jen

swimmer: Janet Evans

date:

encounter: It was amazing. Janet is my role model and it was unbelieveable to finally get to meet her. She was so nice and sweet

submit date: Wed, 14 Feb 2001 17:44:33 -0500 (EST)

name: Penny

swimmer: Matt Dunn

date: June 2000

encounter: Actually, I've spoken to Matt a few times when out (and generally pretty pissed). He sometimes goes to Manuka, a chic cafe spot in Canberra that has a couple of good bars. Don't really know what I said, just general good luck stuff. He was pretty tolerant about the whole thing. Very well mannered boy. I think he went to a private boys school in Sydney and got into swimming because of his asthma. Is this okay?

Webmaster's note: yep, your encounter is fine!

submit date:Mon, 19 Feb 2001 04:11:45 -0500 (EST)

name: Bernadette

swimmer: Matt Dunn

date: 16/2/01

encounter: My friend and i went to manly on saturday and there was volleyball championships on, so we decided to watch those for about half an hour. Then it was announced that there would be a celebrity match and guess who was playing??? MATT DUNN!!!! i was soooo excited and with us (i was organised) we took paper, pencils, textas and glue and we made a poster which said 'WE LOVE YOU MATT DUNN' and we held it up for the whole match! When Matt Dunn saw it, he smiled and waved to us and after the match he thanked us for the support and i got his autograph, as well as a photo with him!WOW! i was sooo happy! f you go to www.onetel.com.au then go to the volleyball photos and type in the codi 1-4788, you can see a photo of us with the poster

submit date:Wed, 27 Jun 2001 00:11:28 -0400 (EDT)

name: Debbie Spence

swimmer: Lenny Krayzelburg

date: 23/06/01

encounter: I was in Las Vegas at the MGM Casino right after the Oscar De La Hoya fight. Right in front of Studio 54 I met Lenny Krayzelburg. He as a really nice guy and must of thought I was a nut, because I was just going on and on about him! He took a picture with me. I have to say that he really makes America proud!!!

submit date:Sat, 30 Jun 2001 17:12:48 -0400 (EDT)

name: David Winward

swimmer: Lenny Krayzelburg

date: 23/06/01

encounter: I was in Las Vegas, Nevada. We were just walking in to the casino at Caesar’s Palace and I saw Lenny Krayzelburg standing there with some of his friends. I went up and asked if I could get my picture taken with him. He was cool about it and obliged. I only recognized him from seeing him at the Olympics. It was incredible to see him in person.

submit date: Tue, 24 Jul 2001 15:45:47 -0400 (EDT)

name: Lisa

swimmer: Lenny Krayzelburg

date:

encounter: Lenny is a member at the gym that I work at and has always been the most humble and down to earth guy. He might be even a little shy you could say of his celebrity status. I am sure will be seeing good things from him in the near future. Good luch with your surgery Lenny.

submit date: Sat, 11 Aug 2001 00:03:48 -0400 (EDT)

name: David Wheat

swimmer: Jim Montgomery

date: every week

encounter: I'm a USMS swimmer in Dallas, Texas and the head coach of the Master's team is Jim Montgomery, a gold-medal Olympic swimmer and world record holder. It's quite exhilarating to be coached every week by one of the world's fastest swimmers.

submit date: Mon, 22 Oct 2001 09:32:28 -0400 (EDT)

name: Jenn Olson

swimmer: Lenny Krayzelburg

date: 10/20/01

encounter: I met Lenny at the ESPN Zone in NYC. I asked for his autograph and he was very pleasant even though I interupted his lunch. I would've liked to ask him a few more questions and find out more about him, but I froze!

submit date: Tue, 2 Jul 2002 23:06:17 -0400

name: Veronica Frederick

swimmer: Lenny Krayzelburg

date: 26/6/02

encounter: I had a swim camp at USC from 6/23-6/28. I was finally able to meet my idol, which i had been hoping and praying for continously, for a little over a year. I look up to him so much, i made a collage of him to put on my folder for Geometry. My mom had even laminated a picture of him for me so i can put it on my swim bag. (i know, i'm obsessed) So we sat in a conference room and there he was!!!! I had butterflies in my stomach and i think i needed my inhaler(just kidding)!!! When it was time for autographs i was ready with a Splash magazine for him on the cover and my swim bag (which happened to have the key chain). I plopped my bag on the desk and made sure the key chain was close to him. I think he saw it cause he was smiling a lot. Then i said, " You're really good luck for me before all my races!!!" Then pointed to the keychain. "Thanks," he said "good luck!" I then took a picture with him and thanked him again. It wasn't as personal as i would've liked, i w! ished i could of talked to him so he would know how much he influenced me. But i think the keychain scared him, he probably thought i was a deranged stalker!!! But it's okay, after meeting him and even asking him a question ("Do you consider yourself a celebrity?"), i was very happy. And i wish him the best of luck in all the things he encounters in his life!!!

submit date: Mon, 23 Sep 2002 19:39:43 -0400

name: Hannah

swimmer: Lenny Krayzelburg

date: October 17

encounter: Hey I didn't exactaly meet him, but he wrote me a letter. Right after the Olympics I found an adress to write him and about a month later I picked up the mail and there was a postcard from him! It said "thank you Hannah and folow your dreams, love Lenny Krayzelburg!"

submit date: Tue, 14 Sep 2004 21:22:25 -0400

name: Jaime

swimmer: Lenny Krayzelburg

date: 14 September 2004

encounter: Well i didnt meet him but i went to the SWIM WITH THE STARS at the one by my house and yes i TOUCHED LENNYS BUTT as he was walking around the pool. LoL Jess if you read this !!!

submit date: Thu, 23 Sep 2004 21:54:20 -0400

name: Megan Grady

swimmer: Lenny Krayzelburg/ Michael Phelps/ Ian Crocker

date: 15 September 2004

encounter: My mom saw in the paper that Michael Phelps was coming to a town that was near us. I freaked out, because i had to go, because i fell in love with Michael when I first saw him on an AT&T commercial so i did what i had t do to go. So i got tickets to see him on the Disney "swim with stars" tour. after the show I
got to meet him he was so cute. I was so happy when i went to met him I began to cry. i was so happy to finally get to meet him. i got his autogragh and a picture.what was also great is I also got LENNY KRAYZELBURG and IAN CROCKER's autogragh and a pic with both. they were all great and sooo nice. Sorry so long!!!!

submit date: Tue, 28 Sep 2004 21:17:52 -0400

name: Matt

swimmer: Lenny Krayzelburg/ Michael Phelps/ Ian Crocker/ Megan Quann

date: 27 September 2004

encounter: I met all three at the Swim with the Stars event. Megan is a local hometown favorite and made a special appearence. I met all four and they joked saying its nice to see that teenage guys appreciate swimming. It was so fun and I got each autograph and a pic.

submit date: Sun, 10 Oct 2004 14:04:47 -0400

name: Liz Wehrheim

swimmer: Lenny Krayzelburg

date: 9 October 2004

encounter: I was at the FINA world championship in Indianpolis, In. I i had seat right below a box, and every now and then my friend and I would look up there to envy the rich folk. I looked up and almost had a heart attack. I yelled Lenny! he didnt here. latter I noticed he wasnt up there so my couch and I went up and stood outside the door to his box. 10 miuets later he came back and we got him to sighn our towels. He was really great about it, and now that will be the best day of my life, the day i meet my HERO!