It’s been a long journey for swimmer Shane Kleinbeck, a junior sports management major, to get to where he is today.
Kleinbeck says he began swimming because of his older brother. Kleinbeck took to the water and was hooked.
“When I was seven, my brother got me into it,” said Kleinbeck. “Well, he was swimming and my parents essentially tricked me into doing it but it turned out well in the long run.”
Kleinbeck’s father Karl Kleinbeck was stationed in Germany as a member of the United States Air Force, where he met Shane’s mother, Birgit, a native of Germany. After moving to Michigan, the Kleinbecks again relocated to Wurzburg, Germany, where Shane was born.
After leaving Germany for a second time, the Kleinbecks spent a short time in Florida before settling in San Antonio, Texas.
He swam for four years at Douglas MacArthur High School in San Antonio, becoming captain his senior year. After graduating, he enrolled at the University of Tennessee, which is known for its swimming program. But
Kleinbeck realized after a couple years that, though it was a great team, that didn’t mean much if he wasn’t getting the most out of the experience.
“Great team, great coaches, they’re all great people. The coaching staff there is amazing but it just wasn’t the place for me. I wasn’t really as happy as I could be,” said Kleinbeck. “Maybe I jumped into the decision too soon. I don’t know but it wasn’t the place for me. I knew it deep down.”
The best decision for him was to move to a place where he could grow, not only as a swimmer but as a person. NSU, which he transferred to last year, has been able to help Kleinbeck in both of these aspects of his life. It has been an easy transition for him.
“I was in Florida for a few years when I was younger right after Germany. I just wanted to come back. I took a trip and I really liked the team,” said Kleinbeck. “It’s good. I feel a lot more connected to my team. I’m having a lot more fun than I’ve ever had.”
The life on campus and making the move to NSU seems to have really made Kleinbeck happy. He is swimming better than he ever has, but his success has gone beyond the pool as well, extending into the classroom.
“Everything is better. I’ve grown up more. Trying to transition at NSU has really helped me mature. My grades are better. Everything has gone better. Best decision I’ve ever made,” said Kleinbeck.
I got the chance to ask Kleinbeck more about his swimming and few of his favorite things.
It’s been a long journey for swimmer Shane Kleinbeck, a junior sports management major, to get to where he is today.
Kleinbeck says he began swimming because of his older brother. Kleinbeck took to the water and was hooked.
“When I was seven, my brother got me into it,” said Kleinbeck. “Well, he was swimming and my parents essentially tricked me into doing it but it turned out well in the long run.”
Kleinbeck’s father Karl Kleinbeck was stationed in Germany as a member of the United States Air Force, where he met Shane’s mother, Birgit, a native of Germany. After moving to Michigan, the Kleinbecks again relocated to Wurzburg, Germany, where Shane was born.
After leaving Germany for a second time, the Kleinbecks spent a short time in Florida before settling in San Antonio, Texas.
He swam for four years at Douglas MacArthur High School in San Antonio, becoming captain his senior year. After graduating, he enrolled at the University of Tennessee, which is known for its swimming program. But
Kleinbeck realized after a couple years that, though it was a great team, that didn’t mean much if he wasn’t getting the most out of the experience.
“Great team, great coaches, they’re all great people. The coaching staff there is amazing but it just wasn’t the place for me. I wasn’t really as happy as I could be,” said Kleinbeck. “Maybe I jumped into the decision too soon. I don’t know but it wasn’t the place for me. I knew it deep down.”
The best decision for him was to move to a place where he could grow, not only as a swimmer but as a person. NSU, which he transferred to last year, has been able to help Kleinbeck in both of these aspects of his life. It has been an easy transition for him.
“I was in Florida for a few years when I was younger right after Germany. I just wanted to come back. I took a trip and I really liked the team,” said Kleinbeck. “It’s good. I feel a lot more connected to my team. I’m having a lot more fun than I’ve ever had.”
The life on campus and making the move to NSU seems to have really made Kleinbeck happy. He is swimming better than he ever has, but his success has gone beyond the pool as well, extending into the classroom.
“Everything is better. I’ve grown up more. Trying to transition at NSU has really helped me mature. My grades are better. Everything has gone better. Best decision I’ve ever made,” said Kleinbeck.
I got the chance to ask Kleinbeck more about his swimming and few of his favorite things.
Which events do you swim individually?
“200-meter freestyle, 500-meter freestyle and 100-meter freestyle.”
What is your best event?
“200 free. It’s a difficult event to swim. It’s a sprint but you can’t just sprint it. Everything has to be done a specific way to balance out the race.”
What would you say is your greatest weakness?
“Myself. For example, in our conference meet at the preliminaries, I was second going into finals. I had done really well and was relaxed. I’m good with my nerves; I don’t usually get nervous. But I just put so much pressure on myself to win it, that by the time we walked out to the blocks, I had already lost. I just put way too much pressure on myself. I’m someone who needs to be having fun and staying loose and enjoying myself. And if I’m not, I’m done.”
Can you describe the feeling standing on the podium at conferences after medaling?
“It’s nice. You have all the parents in the stands cheering. It’s just you and two other teams. It’s a good experience.”
Do you have any rituals or superstitions?
“Publix chicken tender sub before every meet, the day we leave or the day before the meet.”
If you could play any other sport at NSU what would it be?
“Soccer. Hands down.”
What is your favorite food?
“Baked goods. Cookies.”
What is your favorite movie?
“Leonardo DiCaprio movies. Anything he’s in.”
Who is your favorite athlete?
“I don’t really have any. I admire guys who are good at what they do.”
If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would it be?
“Monaco.”
If you were granted one superpower what would it be?
“Flying for sure.”
If there was a movie about your life, who would play you?
“Leonardo DiCaprio, of course.”
