Cody Simpson’s Tokyo Olympic dream is officially over.
The 24-year-old, who made a bold charge at Olympic glory after many years away from the sport, placed last in the men’s 100 metre butterfly final on Thursday night.
After the race at the Australian Swimming Trials, the singer vowed to ‘come back stronger next year’ and stated his intentions to aim for a place at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
So close: Cody Simpson (pictured) placed last in the men’s 100 metre butterfly final on Thursday night, missing a place at the Tokyo Olympics this year
Simpson also admitted he didn’t think he’d be ‘remotely competitive until at least next year at the earliest’ and had thereby exceeded his own expectations.
‘I feel good. It was my goal to come out and make a final today,’ the Queenslander said.
‘It’s what I did. Happy to be here.’
He said he planned to take a break before coming back for the Commonwealth Games trials in 2022.
Cody clocked in with a time of 52.94 seconds, only fractionally slower than the personal best time he had recorded earlier in the day.
Not done yet: After the race at the Australian Swimming Trials, the singer vowed to ‘come back stronger next year’
Impressive: Cody clocked in with a time of 52.94 seconds, only fractionally slower than the personal best time he had recorded earlier in the day
Meanwhile, Matthew Temple won the final, breaking the Australian record in the process with his time of 50.45 seconds.
The ex of pop star Miley Cyrus silenced his doubters earlier in the day when he came third in the ‘fast heat’ and easily qualified for the 7pm final.
He looked understandably puffed out exiting the pool at the South Australian Aquatic and Leisure Centre, after qualifying sixth with a time of 52.84 seconds.
He did it! Simpson earlier stunned the Australian swimming world by easily qualifying for the 100m Butterfly Final
Sports reporter Lachlan McKirdy described Simpson’s swim as ‘remarkable’.
The Gold Coast-born talent’s time was a new personal best – but he’ll have to dig even deeper to upstage number one qualifier Matthew Temple (51.47 seconds).
Swimming Australia has set the Olympic qualifying time at 51.70 seconds, meaning Cody will have to shave just over a second off his already impressive heat result.
It remains a tough ask for the former flame of Miley Cyrus, who looked like he had little left in the tank following Thursday morning’s heat as he showcased his gym-honed frame in a pair of black Speedo swim trunks.
Gassed but ready to go! He looked understandably puffed out exiting the pool at the South Australian Aquatic and Leisure Centre, after qualifying sixth with a time of 52.84 seconds
Final hurdle: The Gold Coast-born talent’s time was a new personal best – but he’ll have to dig even deeper to upstage number one qualifier Matthew Temple (51.47 seconds)
Eyes on the prize: Cody looked focused on the task ahead just before jumping into the pool
The 100m butterfly is Cody’s pet event and he already exceeded expectations by winning his 100m freestyle heat on Tuesday, despite failing to qualify for the final.
He beamed as he walked out of the pool complex to speak to media after his surprise win.
‘I’m pretty stoked!’ the pop star-turned-Olympic hopeful said in an interview with Nine News.
‘Considering 100 freestyle is a fun event for me, I just wanted to get in the water and see how the training has done and I’m super happy with it,’ he said.
Focused: He gave it his all in the race, the 100m butterfly, which is Cody’s pet event
‘Pretty stoked!’ The 100m Butterfly is Cody’s pet event and he already exceeded expectations by winning his 100m Freestyle heat on Tuesday, despite failing to qualify for the final
‘I feel amazing, it’s really nice to get one under my belt before the 100 butterfly. It definitely went a lot quicker than I thought it would.’
For Cody, it’s not just the element of winning which has inspired him to show up.
‘It’s really amazing to be around so many incredible swimmers… guys that I’ve known since they were little that I used to race when we were little,’ he said.
Happy with the results: ‘Considering 100 freestyle is a fun event for me, I just wanted to get in the water and see how the training has done and I’m super happy with it,’ he added
Resurfaced: Cody was a talented junior swimmer, but quit when his recording career took off. He returned to the sport last year with hopes of qualifying for Paris 2024. The postponement of the Tokyo Olympics to 2021 has offered him the chance to realise his childhood dream three-years earlier
‘Seeing them breaking record left, right and centre. Just being around it all, the energy is unreal.’
Cody was a talented junior swimmer, but quit when his recording career took off. He returned to the sport last year with hopes of qualifying for Paris 2024.
The postponement of the Tokyo Olympics to 2021 has offered him the chance to realise his childhood dream three years earlier.
Support: Cody’s American model girlfriend Marloes Stevens has also joined him Down Under as he competes in the swim trials