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Jessica HARDY
Sport Swimming
NOC United States   
GenderWomen
Born12 Mar 1987 in Orange, CA, USA
Height1.83 m
Weight 71 kg
 Human Interest 
Further Personal Information
Residence
 Long Beach, CA, USA
General Interest
Famous relatives
 Her mother Denise was a swimmer at Indiana State University. Her grandfather John Tourtellot was on the rowing team at Columbia University, while her other grandfather invented the diamond tip needle for record players. Her husband Dominik Meichtry has represented Switzerland in swimming. (SportsDeskOnline, 29 Feb 2016; Twitter profile, 23 Feb 2016; swimswam.com, 10 Nov 2014; USA Swimming, 17 Jan 2007)
Sport Specific Information
Why this sport?
 She noticed a team swimming at her local pool and asked her mother if she could join them.
General Interest
Awards and honours
 She received a Golden Goggle Award as USA Swimming's Breakout Performer of the Year in 2005, and received the Perseverance Award at the same event in 2012. (University of California Bears, 17 Jan 2007; swimswam.com, 19 Nov 2012)
Sport Specific Information
When and where did you begin this sport?
 She began swimming at age five at a community pool in Long Beach, CA, United States of America.
General Interest
Nicknames
 Jess (USA Swimming, 17 Jan 2007)
Other information
 RETIREMENT
She retired from swimming after the 2016 US Olympic Trials in July 2016. (presstelegram.com, 08 Aug 2016)

GOLD LINING
In November 2015 she released her autobiography, 'Swimming Toward the Gold Lining'. The book focuses on her career and the doping suspension she received in 2008. "I was surprised at how difficult it was to write it. I had to relive a lot of pain, but my overall goal was to try to relay my story in a way that can inspire others. I found the good through some very difficult obstacles, and I know that there are a lot of people out there who could use some inspiration though their own tough times. The pain of writing the book is worth it if I can help just one of those people." (swimmingworldmagazine.com, 14 Jan 2016; olympics.nbcsports.com, 11 Nov 2015)

SUSPENSION
After qualifying for the US team ahead of the 2008 Olympic Games, she tested positive for clenbuterol and voluntarily left the team. The substance typically carries a two-year ban, but she ended up serving a one-year ban after she explained to the American Arbitration Association [AAA] that her positive test was a result of a tainted nutritional supplement. She discovered in 2011 that the International Olympic Committee [IOC] ruled she would not be subjected to the ban that prevents athletes who have been suspended for more than six months for doping from competing at the next Olympic Games. Following the 2008 ban, she suffered from depression and post-traumatic stress disorder. (jessicahardy.net, 02 Oct 2011; usantidoping.org, 01 Aug 2008)

TODDLER RESCUE
At age three she fell into a swimming pool at a party and stayed below the surface for approximately 30 seconds. She was rescued by a party goer who dived in and pulled her out of the water. She now supports the 'Make a Splash' campaign to raise awareness and educate children about the dangers of water. "It could have ended my life but a friend jumped in to save me. The next day my mother put me into swim lessons." (latimes.com, 08 Aug 2014)
Further Personal Information
Family
 Husband Dominik Meichtry
Higher education
 Communications - University of California: Berkeley, CA, USA
Languages
 English

 Competition Highlights
Olympic Games
Rank Year Venue Event Result
8 2012 London, ENG 100m Freestyle 54.02
7 2012 London, ENG 50m Freestyle 24.62
3 2012 London, ENG 4 x 100m Freestyle Relay 3:34.24
1 2012 London, ENG 4 x 100m Medley Relay  
World Championships
Rank Year Venue Event Result
Semifinal 2015 Kazan, RUS 100m Breaststroke 1:07.22
5 2015 Kazan, RUS 50m Breaststroke 30.20
4 2015 Kazan, RUS 4 x 100m Medley Relay 3:56.76
3 2013 Barcelona, ESP 100m Breaststroke 1:05.52
3 2013 Barcelona, ESP 50m Breaststroke 29.80
1 2013 Barcelona, ESP 4 x 100m Medley Relay 3:53.23
1 2011 Shanghai, CHN 50m Breaststroke 30.19
8 2011 Shanghai, CHN 50m Freestyle 24.87
2 2011 Shanghai, CHN 4 x 100m Freestyle Relay 3:34.47
1 2007 Melbourne, VIC, AUS 50m Breaststroke 30.63
4 2007 Melbourne, VIC, AUS 100m Breaststroke 1:07.38
2 2007 Melbourne, VIC, AUS 4 x 100m Medley Relay  
2 2005 Montreal, CAN 100m Breaststroke 1:06.62
2 2005 Montreal, CAN 50m Breaststroke 30.85 
2 2005 Montreal, CAN 4 x 100m Medley Relay 3:59.92
World Championships Short Course
Rank Year Venue Event Result
5 2012 Istanbul, TUR 50m Breaststroke 30.01
5 2012 Istanbul, TUR 100m Breaststroke 1:05.08
7 2012 Istanbul, TUR 100m Freestyle 53.52
Heats 2012 Istanbul, TUR 50m Freestyle  DNS
1 2012 Istanbul, TUR 4 x 100m Freestyle Relay 3:31.01
3 2012 Istanbul, TUR 4 x 100m Medley Relay 3:51.43
4 2010 Dubai, UAE 50m Freestyle 24.09
2 2010 Dubai, UAE 4 x 100m Freestyle Relay 3:29.34
2 2010 Dubai, UAE 4 x 100m Medley Relay 3:48.36
1 2008 Manchester, ENG 100m Breaststroke 1:04.22
1 2008 Manchester, ENG 50m Breaststroke 29.58
4 2008 Manchester, ENG 50m Freestyle 24.28
5 2008 Manchester, ENG 4 x 100m Freestyle Relay 3:34.96
1 2008 Manchester, ENG 4 x 100m Medley Relay 3:51.36
3 2006 Shanghai, CHN 50m Breaststroke 30.48
4 2006 Shanghai, CHN 100m Breaststroke 1:06.13
2 2006 Shanghai, CHN 4 x 100m Medley Relay  
World Cup Short Course
Rank Year Venue Event Result
17 2012   Overall  
1 2012 Berlin, GER 100m Breaststroke 1:04.58
2 2012 Berlin, GER 50m Freestyle 24.43
2 2012 Berlin, GER 100m Freestyle 53.00
1 2012 Berlin, GER 50m Breaststroke 30.13
1 2012 Berlin, GER 4 x 50m Medley Relay 1:40.49
1 2012 Berlin, GER 4 x 50m Freestyle Relay 1:31.16
2 2012 Moscow, RUS 50m Freestyle 24.52
2 2012 Moscow, RUS 100m Freestyle 53.74
1 2012 Moscow, RUS 50m Breaststroke 30.29
5 2012 Moscow, RUS 100m Individual Medley 1:00.54
1 2012 Moscow, RUS 4 x 50m Medley Relay 1:40.87
4 2012 Stockholm, SWE 100m Breaststroke 1:05.50
3 2012 Stockholm, SWE 50m Freestyle 24.41
2 2012 Stockholm, SWE 100m Freestyle 53.38
3 2012 Stockholm, SWE 50m Breaststroke 30.48
1 2010 Singapore, SGP 100m Breaststroke 1:06.49
1 2010 Singapore, SGP 50m Breaststroke 30.35
2 2010 Tokyo, JPN 50m Freestyle 24.42
1 2010 Tokyo, JPN 100m Breaststroke 1:05.85
2 2010 Tokyo, JPN 50m Breaststroke 30.58
2 2010 Tokyo, JPN 100m Freestyle 53.24
1 2009   Overall  
2 2009 Berlin, GER 100m Breaststroke 1:03.30
1 2009 Berlin, GER 50m Breaststroke 28.80 WR
1 2009 Durban, RSA 100m Breaststroke 1:04.15
1 2009 Durban, RSA 50m Breaststroke 29.45 WR
1 2009 Durban, RSA 100m Individual Medley 59.93
1 2009 Moscow, RUS 100m Breaststroke 1:03.75
1 2009 Moscow, RUS 50m Breaststroke 29.36 WR
2 2009 Singapore, SGP 100m Breaststroke 1:03.87
1 2009 Singapore, SGP 50m Breaststroke 29.09
1 2009 Stockholm, SWE 50m Breaststroke 29.29