Steve Krause's swimming career has taken him from royal birthday parties in Monte Carlo and scientific experiments in Mexico to daily workouts in Harvard's IAB.

Krause made a momentous decision last spring in the midst of an illustrious swimming career. After 10 years of travel and competition, he wanted a break from the pressures of big-time swimming. Turning down scholarship bids from many of the collegiate swimming powers, he decided to enroll at Harvard and pursue a limited swimming schedule.

"I never expected to find much of a competitive swimming program at Harvard." Krause said yesterday, "but I am delighted with the arrangement here."

Harvard has been just as delighted with Krause. Varsity coach Bill Brooks called him "the best freshman swimmer ever to enter Harvard--including Neville Hayes who won a bronze medal in the 1960 Olympic games."

Krause has not captured any Olympic hardware, but he once held a world record in the 1500-meter free-style with a time of 16:58.6. He set the mark in the 1965 U.S. Outdoor Championships at the age of 15.

Krause's world record performance earned him a three-week trip to Europe as part of an American swimming delegation. According to Krause, his only instructions were to "have a good time, represent America faithfully, and swim well," in that order. Krause followed this advice admirably.

The highlight of his trip was a visit to the Palace at Monte Carlo where he and the other swimmers were guests of Prince Rainier and Princess Grace at Monaco. Somehow the Prince and Princess discovered that Krause was celebrating his 16th birthday. They gave him a regal party complete with cake and fireworks.

After returning to the United States, Krause flew almost immediately to Mexico City to participate in some high altitude experiments. The tests were conducted in preparation for the 1968 Olympics to be held there this summer.

"Records will be broken this year as always," Krause said, "but I think the altitude will be a significant handicap in many events."

Breaks Records

At Harvard, Krause has already re-written the record book in two events. His 4:55.8 clocking in the 500-yard freestyle eclipsed Don "Gold Medal" Schollander's pool record by 1.4 seconds. Krause also holds the freshman, Harvard, and pool records in the 200-yard individual medley with a time of 2:02.3. He set both marks last Saturday against the Princeton freshmen.

Krause possesses incredible endurance. Twice this year, he has swum the 200-yard individual medley, the 200-yard butterfly, and the 500-freestyle in a single meet. He captured first place in five of the six events, losing only to teammate Johnny Monk in the butterfly against Princeton.

The 1968 Olympic Games remain an enigma for Krause. He has not yet decided if he will try out for the United States Team.

"Sure it would be a great honor to participate in the Olympics," Krause said. "But people don't realize the kind of training a meet like that takes. I'm not sure I want to swim 9000 meters a day all summer."

Swimmers at Yale and U.C.L.A. never consider such problems--their pressure programs are designed to produce Olympic champions. And Steve Krause is happy to be at Harvard.