Cody Simpson has vowed to reach his swimming goals before he is done with the sport.
The Australian popstar-turned-swimmer, who won relay gold and silver at last year’s Commonwealth Games for heat swims, this week set a new personal best by equalling the exact Olympic qualification time for the 100m butterfly event.
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Simpson took 0.11 seconds off his PB to win the Queensland state title in 51.67 on Monday night in Brisbane, making him eligible for Paris selection next year.
But he still has a long way to go if he is to partner Australian 100m butterfly record-holder Matthew Temple, who is all but certain to occupy one of the two spots in the team for the event.
Despite the impressive swim on Monday night, Simpson’s time of 51.67 has him ranked ninth in the country as preparations for the Games heat up.
That’s only driving him for more though, the singer-swimmer declaring to his 5.2 million fans on Instagram on Wednesday night that he is not done yet.
“51.67 100m fly. Small steps forward, still forward. I’m going to crack the code before I’m through,” he wrote.
The 26-year-old then backed his butterfly effort up with a fifth-placed finish in the 100m freestyle final at Brisbane Aquatic Centre.
His latest solo effort puts him in the frame for an individual berth that could be secured at June’s Olympic trials, but Temple (50.45) is still expected to set the pace, though he will also have chances to qualify for the Games in relays.
His efforts came hours after girlfriend and 11-time Olympic medallist Emma McKeon was forced out of the event with injury.
Simpson put his music career on hold to return to the pool in 2020, making the 100m butterfly final at the 2021 Olympic trials but missing a spot on Australia’s Games team.
He then won Commonwealth Games gold and silver medals for heat swims in the 4x100m freestyle and 4x100m medley relays in Birmingham last year.
“I’m so glad it was here tonight,” Simpson said of his new benchmark after the race.
“It’s awesome to be looking forward to Olympic trials; it’s really important to race well.
“I grew up racing in this pool and it’s great to get a Queensland open championship.”
Earlier, McKeon was ruled out of the event with a torn muscle in a blow to her Games preparation.
Australia’s most decorated Olympian was due to race alongside Cate Campbell in Monday’s 100m freestyle heats.
But her lane was empty, coach Michael Bohl later confirming she had been withdrawn as a “precaution”.
Bohl said McKeon had been managing “a minor tear under her armpit for some weeks” and that the medical advice was to not rush back into competition.
The championships are the last meet of the year and Olympic trials will take place from June 10, some five weeks before the 2024 Games in Paris.
McKeon won four golds at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, and seven medals in total.
It was the most by any female swimmer at a single Olympic Games and the joint-most medals across any sport with Soviet gymnast Maris Gorokhovskaya, who achieved the feat in 1952.
The meet also served as Campbell’s first steps towards becoming the first Australian to swim at five Olympics.
The 31-year-old, who has returned this year after a lengthy break following the Tokyo Games, finished third in the 100m freestyle final.
Campbell clocked 53.23 to finish behind Meg Harris (53.03) and Shayna Jack (52.76).
And Ariarne Titmus cruised to victory in the 400m freestyle final on Monday night, her first title since revealing in September she had benign tumours removed from an ovary.
– With AAP