Pop star-turned-swimmer Cody Simpson has continued his meteoric rise after securing a spot in Australia’s team for the World Championships in the 100m butterfly event.
Simpson swam a 51.96, exactly the mark required to qualify for the team, in the 100m butterfly final at the Australian swimming championships, finishing in third behind winner Matthew Temple (51.50) and Kyle Chalmers (51.67).
It was a stunning time for 25-year-old, whose previous best time in the 100m butterfly coming into the meet was a 52.9. With Chalmers set to skip the World Championships, it means Simpson is likely to be selected in the team despite his third-placed finish in the event.
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Following his incredible effort, Simpson pushed back on suggestions from naysayers that his return to the pool was simply all about publicity, calling the prospect of making the Australian team a “dream come true”.
“It certainly wasn’t (a publicity stunt), it never was,” he told Amazon Prime Video.
“I had a great swim this morning and there’s so much progress from last year. I’ve just been busting my arse all year so it’s amazing to see results like this pay off.
“I was hoping I could go a little quicker tonight, but to scrape under (the qualifying time) is a real dream. I had no idea it was going to happen this meet, so I’m through the roof.
“I only started training a little under two years ago after like 10-11 years out of the water and I didn’t even think I’d be remotely competitive and even racing until this year at the earliest. So to potentially make a team already is just a bonus on the way to Paris.”