Pop Star Cody Simpson Beats Olympic Gold Medallist At The Australian Titles
The Aussie is one step closer to competing at the Commonwealth Games.
Cody Simpson's dreams of representing Australia on the biggest sporting stage just got a major boost.
The pop star just swam his heart out at the Australian titles, smashing his personal best time of 51.79 in the 100m butterfly heat.
Incredibly, his impressive performance actually saw him out-swim three-time Aussie Olympian Kyle Chalmers.
Granted, Chalmers usually specialises in freestyle - having won gold at the Rio Games in 2016 - but for Simpson to beat one of the very best in the business is still an incredible feat.
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The only athlete to record a faster time in the heats than Simpson was Olympic bronze medallist Matthew Temple.
Simpson fell agonisingly sort in his quest for a spot on the Aussie Olympic team heading to Tokyo last year, but this latest performance will undoubtedly give selectors some thinking to do.
The popular musician's spot in the squad isn't guaranteed just yet though, first he must place in the top three in Wednesday's final if he stands any chance of clinching a spot on that Qantas plane heading to the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.
But it's not a place just the Comm Games which are up for grabs, with selections for the World Titles in Budapest coming up too.
The singer-turned-swimmer was a talented athlete in the pool while he was growing up, but his ability on the stage soon tool over as he became a global superstar.
But in recent years, Simpson has turned his attention back to his childhood passion and has spoken openly about his desire to represent his country at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
The now-25-year-old ended up finishing last in the Olympic swimming trials, but was keen to get straight back to work.
"What an experience racing at my first Australian Olympic Trials," Simpson said after his race.
"To make a final was our goal this year and with less than a year of training we did just that.
"I've come so much further than I expected to this year and to be racing the best in the country already is a privilege."
He added: "I'm so psyched to get back to training.
"See you in 3 years."
Max Sherry