Jessica Hardy, Jason Lezak teach Long Beach youth swimming skills

LONG BEACH >> Olympic gold medalist and Long Beach native Jessica Hardy was back in the water in her hometown on Tuesday, helping preschool-aged children lea to swim in the Belmont Plaza outdoor pool.

Hardy teamed up with four-time Olympic gold medalist Jason Lezak (a native of Bellflower) for the event, which was put on by the USA Swimming Foundation as part of the organization’s outreach to help teach young kids to swim.

“Drowning is actually the second-leading cause of accidental death for people under 14 and it’s completely preventable,” said Hardy. “To get to show people how to swim in my hometown is pretty special.”

The event was part of the USA Swimming Foundation’s first-ever Make a Splash Games throughout Southe Califoia, an Olympic-style competition with young swimmers meant to demonstrate how swim lessons can save lives.

Throughout the moing and afteoon event, young swimmers practiced proper form, leaed to float, and used kickboards to swim out to the middle of the pool and back. At one point, Lezak even encouraged the youngsters to race Hardy.

Aside from the goal of helping the USA Swimming Foundation spread its message about water safety, the event signaled a tuing point in Hardy’s life. The Wilson High alum has spent virtually her entire time on this planet swimming competitively — she began when she was 5 — but retired last month after coming up just short of qualifying for the Olympics at the U.S. Trials.

“I would’ve loved to end my career in Rio on a higher note but I had 11 years of my dreams coming true,” said Hardy. “I’m leaving the competitive side of the sport super proud and grateful.”

Hardy and her husband, Swiss Olympic swimmer Dominik Meichtry, have bought a home in Long Beach and she’s plaing on staying local and continuing to stay active in the aquatics community, although she’s not sure in what role yet.

In the meantime, she’s enjoying having a little time to rest and recover from a long and fruitful professional career.

“I feel relieved,” she said. “For the first time in my life I have a summer break. It’s not my job to take care of my body, so I can eat some cake and have a few glasses of wine.”

And perhaps a toast to a retirement well-eaed.

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