Pop star turned swimmer misses out on Tokyo spot
Cody Simpson, the Australian singer and former boyfriend of Miley Cyrus, failed to qualify for the Tokyo Olympics after finishing last in the 100-meter butterfly final at the Australian swimming trials on Thursday. Simpson, who resumed swimming last year after a decade-long hiatus, clocked 52.94 seconds, well behind the winner Matthew Temple’s 50.45 seconds.
Simpson, 24, said he was proud of making the final and that his goal was to compete at the Paris Olympics in 2024. “To be in that final, that is my achievement for this year, that is my gold medal at least for 2021,” he said. “I didn’t expect to be remotely competitive until 2022-23 at the earliest.”
Simpson started swimming as a child and won two gold medals at the 2009 Queensland Swimming Championships. He moved to the US at 13 to pursue a music career and became a teen sensation with hits such as “Pretty Brown Eyes” and “All Day”. He also dated Cyrus for 10 months before they split in August 2020.
He returned to the pool in 2020 under the guidance of former Olympic champion Brett Hawke, who also coached Temple. Simpson said he was inspired by watching the documentary “The Last Dance” about basketball legend Michael Jordan. He trained with Temple and other elite swimmers in Melbourne and posted personal bests in the 100 freestyle and butterfly events at the trials.
Emma McKeon falls short in 100 freestyle
Emma McKeon, the reigning world champion and Olympic bronze medalist in the 100-meter freestyle, also missed out on a Tokyo berth in her signature event after finishing third in the final on Friday. McKeon, who won four medals at the Rio Olympics in 2016, touched the wall in 52.92 seconds, behind Cate Campbell’s 52.35 seconds and Emma McKeon’s 52.59 seconds.
McKeon, 27, said she was disappointed but not surprised by the result, as she had been struggling with a shoulder injury for the past few months. “I knew it was going to be tough, I knew I wasn’t at my best,” she said. “I gave it everything I had, but it just wasn’t enough.”
McKeon, who is part of a swimming dynasty that includes her brother David, a two-time Olympian, and her parents Ron and Susie, both Commonwealth Games medalists, still has a chance to qualify for Tokyo in other events. She has already secured a spot in the 100 butterfly and is expected to compete in the 50 freestyle and the 200 freestyle, as well as the relays.
McKeon was also seen with Simpson at her brother’s wedding in May, sparking rumors of a romance. However, both of them have denied being anything more than friends and training partners. McKeon said she was happy for Simpson’s progress and hoped he would continue swimming. “He’s done an amazing job, he’s improved so much in such a short time,” she said. “He’s got a lot of potential and I’m sure he’ll be back stronger.”
Australian swimming team takes shape for Tokyo
The Australian swimming trials, which concluded on Friday, saw some familiar faces and some new ones secure their tickets to Tokyo. Among the veterans, Cate Campbell, who will be competing in her fourth Olympics, broke her own Commonwealth record in the 50 freestyle with a time of 23.78 seconds. She also won the 100 freestyle and will anchor the women’s 4×100 freestyle relay, which is the defending Olympic champion and world record holder.
Other Rio medalists who qualified for Tokyo include Kyle Chalmers, the 100 freestyle gold medalist, Mack Horton, the 400 freestyle gold medalist, and Mitch Larkin, the 200 backstroke silver medalist. Horton, however, failed to make the cut in his individual event and will only swim in the 4×200 freestyle relay. Larkin, meanwhile, opted out of the 200 backstroke and will focus on the 100 backstroke and the 200 individual medley.
Among the newcomers, Kaylee McKeown, 19, was the star of the trials, breaking the world record in the 100 backstroke with a time of 57.45 seconds. She also won the 200 backstroke and the 200 individual medley, setting Australian records in both events. She will be joined by her younger sister Taylor, 17, who qualified for the 200 breaststroke.
Other rookies who impressed at the trials include Ariarne Titmus, 20, who won the 200, 400 and 800 freestyle, setting a Commonwealth record in the 200 and challenging the world record in the 400. She will face off with American superstar Katie Ledecky, the reigning Olympic champion and world record holder in both events, in Tokyo. Elijah Winnington, 21, who won the 200 and 400 freestyle, setting a Commonwealth record in the latter, and Zac Stubblety-Cook, 22, who won the 200 breaststroke, setting a Commonwealth record and coming close to the world record, also made their mark at the trials.
The Australian swimming team for Tokyo will consist of 35 swimmers, 21 women and 14 men, with an average age of 22. They will be aiming to improve on their performance in Rio, where they won 10 medals, three gold, four silver and three bronze, and finished second behind the US in the medal tally.
