Hardy hits her marks in Irvine

IRVINE, Calif. -- In the year since Jessica Hardy has returned from a drug suspension, she's gone from a swimmer with a shattered psyche to an international champion four times over.

Hardy won her third and fourth gold medals Saturday night at the Pan-Pacific Championships, as she claimed victory in the 50m freestyle and the medley relay. On Friday she won the 50m breaststroke and was on the triumphant 400m freestyle relay squad.

Hardy said she never lost her fitness level; it was the mental side of her game that suffered from being banned for a year after testing positive for a prohibited substance at the 2008 Olympic Trials.

"It's really, really, really gratifying," Hardy said of winning gold here in Irvine. "Being forced to sit out for a year and really struggling emotionally, the past year since I've been free I'm really happy to have finally gotten my confidence."

It was that confidence that allowed Hardy win the overall women's title at the 2009 FINA World Cup, and after qualifying for Pan-Pacs two weeks ago at Nationals, Hardy made the most of her opportunity.

"I feel like every single race this week has gotten better and better and better," Hardy said. "I'm having a blast, especially in the relays. It's so fun getting to represent our country again."

Hardy said she'll focus on the freestyle events next year in the leadup to the 2012 London Games. Her new training plan of swimming with the men on her Trojan Swim Club in nearby Los Angeles has helped her immensely. Even if they beat her to the wall.

"I think racing guys is more fun than racing girls because they're obviously faster, but they're more competitive, not as emotional," Hardy said.

Hardy herself got a little emotional at times this week when talking about the success she's had at this once-every-four-years meet. But it was no longer the emotions caused by the pain of having to sit out for a positive drug test that was ultimately ruled not to be her fault (the Court of Arbitration for Sport found that she did not knowingly take the substance).

It was the joy of knowing that she is back in the pool doing what she does best.