The Road to Nationals-Jessica Hardy
The Road to Nationals-Jessica Hardy
After qualifying to swim four events for Team USA at the 2008 Olympic Games,
Jessica Hardy was devastated to learn she failed one of her three drug tests at the Olympic Trials. Testing positive for a banned substance known as clenbuterol, Hardy voluntarily agreed to step down from the Olympic Team not wanting the hearing process to distract her teammates. The United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) banned the Californian breaststroker from the sport for two years.
Knowing she had not cheated, Hardy had the supplements she was taking during Trials tested. Further investigation revealed that the supplements were in fact contaminated, and in May of 2009 the American Arbitration Association reduced her ban to one year. Returning to competition that August at the
U.S. Open National Championships, Hardy made up for lost time. She broke the 50-meter breaststroke world record and became the first woman to swim under the 30 seconds in the event. One day later, she also broke the 100-meter breaststroke world record, lowering her 50-meter record in the process. Hardy continued the record-breaking streak through the winter of 2009 and was the female overall winner at the 2009 FINA Swimming World Cup series.
Looking forward to racing this summer, Hardy took a break between practices at the
National Team Training camp this past week to share her training regime and goals for the
2010 ConocoPhillips National Championships.
National Team Member: Jessica Hardy
Distance from the 2010 ConocoPhillips National Championships: 0 miles
Distance from the 2010 ConocoPhillips National Championships: 0 miles
With your record setting performances last year, what are your goals for Nationals this summer?
Jessica: That’s a tough question. I don’t think that setting records is necessarily my goal anymore because of the whole suit thing. I think at this point my goal is to race and race well – emphasizing the racing more than times. I’m looking forward to that.
Jessica: That’s a tough question. I don’t think that setting records is necessarily my goal anymore because of the whole suit thing. I think at this point my goal is to race and race well – emphasizing the racing more than times. I’m looking forward to that.
Has it been difficult adjusting to swimming without the technical suits?
Jessica: I don’t think it is difficult because you train everyday without a technical suit and I really only got to swim in them from August until the first of this year. I didn’t have them for the full year that everyone else did so I never really got use to them in the first place. They made me float so much higher, so my breaststroke was all out of funk. For me now it is just back to being normal.
Jessica: I don’t think it is difficult because you train everyday without a technical suit and I really only got to swim in them from August until the first of this year. I didn’t have them for the full year that everyone else did so I never really got use to them in the first place. They made me float so much higher, so my breaststroke was all out of funk. For me now it is just back to being normal.
What type of training are you focusing on here at the end of March?
Jessica: At the moment I am at the National Team training camp in Chula Vista Olympic Training Center. I’m really just trying to get as much good work in as I can. I’m not doing as much sprint work so far this year, like I have every other year, and trying to get in more yardage. For me, it’s a lot of mundane, aerobic work.
Jessica: At the moment I am at the National Team training camp in Chula Vista Olympic Training Center. I’m really just trying to get as much good work in as I can. I’m not doing as much sprint work so far this year, like I have every other year, and trying to get in more yardage. For me, it’s a lot of mundane, aerobic work.
What types of dryland do you incorporate into your training?
Jessica: I don’t lift weights, instead I do yoga, a lot of body weight activities and ab exercises. I run, spin and do the elliptical too – basically, everything but lifting – and I do a little bit every day.
Jessica: I don’t lift weights, instead I do yoga, a lot of body weight activities and ab exercises. I run, spin and do the elliptical too – basically, everything but lifting – and I do a little bit every day.
Do you have a favorite road trip memory?
Jessica: We haven’t really done too many road trips because we usually fly. I don’t think I have ever really done a road trip, so I guess maybe I should do one because I feel like I am missing an opportunity!
Jessica: We haven’t really done too many road trips because we usually fly. I don’t think I have ever really done a road trip, so I guess maybe I should do one because I feel like I am missing an opportunity!
If you could take a road trip anywhere and with anyone, who would it be and where would you go?
Jessica: My birthday was just last week and I got a gift to go to Vegas with some of my friends. They all organized it and surprised me, so we are road tripping out there next month. I guess that is the one I want to do the most.
Jessica: My birthday was just last week and I got a gift to go to Vegas with some of my friends. They all organized it and surprised me, so we are road tripping out there next month. I guess that is the one I want to do the most.
Will you guys play any road trip games?
Jessica: (Laughs) Probably! We’ll have some fun for sure.
Jessica: (Laughs) Probably! We’ll have some fun for sure.
How about a playlist for the four-hour drive to Las Vegas?
Jessica: I like all kinds of music, but I think I am more of a Jack Johnson-type of a person. But when you have a group of people it is more fun to listen to pop and hip hop.
Jessica: I like all kinds of music, but I think I am more of a Jack Johnson-type of a person. But when you have a group of people it is more fun to listen to pop and hip hop.
Leading up to Nationals, what meets do you have coming up?
Jessica: A group is planning to go to the Mare Nostrum series in Europe, which will be really fun to travel since Nationals are in my home pool. I will get my traveling to Europe in before Nationals this summer so I can get the travel bug out of my system.
Jessica: A group is planning to go to the Mare Nostrum series in Europe, which will be really fun to travel since Nationals are in my home pool. I will get my traveling to Europe in before Nationals this summer so I can get the travel bug out of my system.
What have you enjoyed about training with Dave Salo for the past several years?
Jessica: I really enjoy Dave’s practices because he thinks outside of the box. I never get bored in his practices, even if it is a long, boring freestyle set. He will throw things out there for me to think about or we’ll do two flip turns on the wall instead of one. There is always an interesting component to absolutely everything we do. Swimming is by definition a mundane sport with lap after lap of not talking to anyone, so to have a coach who emphasizes keeping it interesting and making it more fun has really helped me take my training to a higher level.
Jessica: I really enjoy Dave’s practices because he thinks outside of the box. I never get bored in his practices, even if it is a long, boring freestyle set. He will throw things out there for me to think about or we’ll do two flip turns on the wall instead of one. There is always an interesting component to absolutely everything we do. Swimming is by definition a mundane sport with lap after lap of not talking to anyone, so to have a coach who emphasizes keeping it interesting and making it more fun has really helped me take my training to a higher level.
How do you stay energized to compete each season?
Jessica: I think racing is one of the most energizing activities you can do. Personally, I love to race and get so jacked every time I have the opportunity to race. Especially after going through the suspension I had to go through and having everything taken away from me, I really appreciate our sport so much more. Finding the energy is the last problem I have.
Jessica: I think racing is one of the most energizing activities you can do. Personally, I love to race and get so jacked every time I have the opportunity to race. Especially after going through the suspension I had to go through and having everything taken away from me, I really appreciate our sport so much more. Finding the energy is the last problem I have.
