Jessica Hardy

About Jessica Hardy

Jessica Hardy (born March 12, 1987) is an American swimmer from Long Beach, California. After setting the world record in the 100 m breaststroke as a high school senior, she competed for two years at the University of California, Berkeley, where she was a four-time NCAA Champion. She gave up her eligibility and turned professional in 2007, and returned to train with her age group coach Dave Salo for Trojan Swim Club out of the University of Southern California. She currently holds the 50 m breaststroke (short course) world record after winning the 2008 FINA Short Course World Championships final in a time of 29.58 seconds on April 12, 2008.

On July 23, 2008, an anonymous person told the Associated Press that Hardy's "A" sample tested positive for a banned stimulant. Her attorney has since confirmed that her "A" and "B" samples from a test administered on July 4th were positive for clenbuterol, a banned stimulant. It has been noted that the positive test was sandwiched by two negative tests, each within a few days of the positive result. Proceedings to determine her elegibility for the 2008 olympic games have been launched. She will not be going to the Olympics, leaving only Dara Torres alone in the 50m free-style and Megan Jendrick in the 100m breaststroke.

Jessica's future plans beyond swimming include designing her own line of swim wear for European beach goers.