After a spell working as a secretary at Ford, she decided to return to the sport in 1992 and resumed competing in 1993. Hardcastle was a member of the relay teams that won bronze in the 4×200-metre freestyle at the 1993 European Championships and silver at the 1994 Commonwealth Games, where she also won an individual bronze medal in the 400-metre freestyle. In 1995 she won the 800m freestyle gold medal and bronze in the 400m freestyle at the World Short Course Championships. At the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta she reached the final of the 800-metre freestyle, finishing eighth. At the ASA National British Championships she is a five times winner of the 400 metres freestyle in (1984, 1986, 1993-1995) and four times winner of the 800 metres freestyle (1984, 1986, 1993 and 1995), in addition to being the champion over 400 metres medley in 1983 and 1986. Hardcastle retired permanently from competitive swimming after the 1996 Olympics, later moving to New Zealand to work as a swimming coach. Personal life Hardcastle was born in Chelmsford, Essex and attended Shoebury High School. Her mother, Ann Hardcastle, is a former swimming coach who taught several British elite swimmers including Mark Foster. Hardcastle married Lee Thomas in 1995; the couple have four children. Her daughter Eve Thomas is a current international swimmer representing New Zealand. See also List of Olympic medalists in swimming (women) List of World Aquatics Championships medalists in swimming (women) References 1969 births Living people English female swimmers Commonwealth Games gold medallists for England Commonwealth Games bronze medallists for England Olympic silver medallists for Great Britain Olympic bronze medallists for Great Britain Swimmers at the 1984 Summer Olympics Swimmers at the 1996 Summer Olympics Swimmers at the 1986 Commonwealth Games Swimmers at the 1994 Commonwealth Games Olympic swimmers of Great Britain Olympic bronze medalists in swimming British female freestyle swimmers Female medley swimmers World Aquatics Championships medalists in swimming Medalists at the FINA World Swimming Championships (25 m) European Aquatics Championships medalists in swimming Sportspeople from Chelmsford Medalists at the 1984 Summer Olympics Commonwealth Games silver medallists for England Olympic silver medalists in swimming Commonwealth Games medallists in swimming Medallists at the 1986 Commonwealth Games Medallists at the 1994 Commonwealth Games