Jessica Hardy beats own world record in women’s 50 breaststroke at short-course World Cup meet

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Hardy beats own world record in 50 breaststroke

STOCKHOLM — Wearing a torn swimsuit, Jessica Hardy broke her own world record in the women’s 50-meter breaststroke by nearly half a second Wednesday at a short-course World Cup meet.

The American finished in 28.96 seconds in a qualifying heat to beat her mark of 29.36 set four days ago in Moscow.

“I’m really happy to go under 29,” said Hardy. “It’s been a goal all year. I didn’t ever think I would do it and I didn’t think it would be that easy.”

Hardy returned to competition in August after serving a one-year doping ban. Leading up to the Olympic trials in July last year, Hardy had been taking a powdered supplement that she mixed in water called Arginine Extreme.

U.S. authorities successfully argued that she should have special exemption to serve only a one-year ban because it was due to the contaminated supplements. However, Hardy could be stripped of Wednesday’s world record if that ruling is overturned.

The World Anti-Doping Agency and FINA have appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, saying she should be banned for two years.

“I’ve been training my butt off because of the stuff I’ve been through,” Hardy said. “The only thing I have control over in my life is swimming and how hard I work. I have really enjoyed working hard and I guess to reap the benefits now is just kind of fun.”

The 22-year-old wore a suit with a four-inch tear across her back but said she would put on a new one for the final later Wednesday.

“It’s old. I did it a while ago,” Hardy said. “They tear pretty easily.”

It was the fifth world record set at the meet. On Tuesday, Jing Zhao of China twice set records in the women’s 50 backstroke. Records were also set by Felicity Galvez of Australia in the women’s 100 butterfly and Kaio Almeida of Brazil in the men’s 200 butterfly.