SwimSwam Podcast: Jessica Hardy on World Records in Practice w/ Soni, Efimova

On SwimSwam Podcast, we’re giving you an in-depth listen at all things swimming. Host Coleman Hodges welcomes guests and guest co-hosts alike to get perspective on our ever-changing swimming universe and break down the past, present, and future of aquatic sports.

We sat down with Jessica Hardy, Olympic champion and sprinting savant. Hardy talked us through her age group days training with Irvine Novaquatics and Dave Salo, and how she always loved racing, no matter what stroke. Hardy also played water polo, which she says helped develop her breaststroke prowess.

I’m so impressed that Hardy was able to develop and harness an elite-level freestyle and breaststroke and freestyle simultaneously; I don’t think we’ve someone do it at her level since. She was a world championship medalist in breaststroke and freestyle relays… at the same meet. According to Hardy, if it was short, she would do it. She also claims to have never been beaten in practice by her USC breaststroke contemporaries and training partners: Rebecca Soni and Yulia Efimova. To be fair, she admits Soni mostly trained in the distance group, and when they would go head-to-head it was mostly 50’s with MAYBE a 100 or two thrown in.

Music: Otis McDonald
www.otismacmusic.com

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Brian
4 years ago

I enjoyed the interview, but expected at least a little discussion of her Clenbuterol controversy. Tough subject to be sure.

Olympian
Reply to  Brian
4 years ago

She’s American, so we pretend it never happened

PowerPlay
Reply to  Olympian
4 years ago

. . . there’s a river in Egypt. Like Covid pandemic.

Smith-King-Dahlia-Manuel
Reply to  PowerPlay
4 years ago

Ready to play the Trump card, I see.

TerpFan
Reply to  Brian
4 years ago

I think she’s talked about it, written a book about it, and the subject has been pretty much covered. I would assume there was some nondisclosure clause in her lawsuit that prevents her from giving the specific details about a lot of the issue.

BSNSwim
4 years ago

It’s been an honor and joy to have Jessica on our team! Seeing her love and passion for the sport as well as people grow in a different avenue has been inspiring!

BSMSwim
4 years ago

It’s been an honor and joy to have Jessica in our team! To see her love for the sport and people grow into a new avenue has truly been inspiring.

BSNSwim
Reply to  BSMSwim
4 years ago

BSNSwim sorry fat thumbs lol

Yup
4 years ago

Zip-a-Dee Doo Dah

About Coleman Hodges

Coleman Hodges

Coleman started his journey in the water at age 1, and although he actually has no memory of that, something must have stuck. A Missouri native, he joined the Columbia Swim Club at age 9, where he is still remembered for his stylish dragon swim trunks. After giving up on …

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