On July 1, 2008, Jendrick qualified for the 2008 U.S. Olympic team in the 100-meter breaststroke, eight years after winning gold in the event at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, Australia. With the disqualification of Jessica Hardy, who was dropped from the team after testing positive for a banned substance (clenbuterol), Jendrick was officially the winner of the event at the U.S. Olympic Trials. In Beijing, Jendrick silenced many critics by making the final of the 100-meter breaststroke—ultimately finishing in fifth place—and capturing a silver medal as part of the 4×100-meter medley relay. Competing under her married name Megan Jendrick (she competed as Megan Quann in 2000), she became only the third person to win Olympic swimming medals under two different names and just the second American to do so. The first was Eleanor Garatti (later Saville) in 1928 and 1932, the second was Libby Lenton (later Trickett) in 2004 and 2008.