The Australian Olympic team could be packing some extra star-power this year, with an international music superstar vying for a spot on the plane to Paris.
Cody Simpson is hoping to make his Olympic debut later this year, after the singer made a late-career switch to swimming, one which has already seen him compete at the 2022 Commonwealth Games.
But before he can call himself an Olympian, he will first need to qualify at the 2024 Australian Swimming Trials, where spots are scarce and competition is cut-throat.
Cody Simpson has not yet qualified for the Paris Olympics, with his opportunity still to come at the 2024 Australian Swimming Trials.
Simpson will contend in the 50m freestyle, 100m freestyle, and 100m butterfly, and will need to finish in the top two of any of these events AND swim under the nominated qualifying time, in order to qualify for the 2024 Olympics.
His best chance at a solo appearance will come in the 100m butterfly, the event in which he placed fourth during April’s Australian Open championships, though he would need to swim a personal-best time to meet the qualifying mark.
He could also make the cut in the 100m freestyle as a relay swimmer, with the top six in the event taken – fifth and sixth swimming in the Olympic heats.
Simpson’s campaign for Olympic qualification will begin on Wednesday, June 12, when he races the 50m freestyle, before contesting the 100m freestyle the following day, June 13.
His last chance will come Saturday, June 15, when he races the 100m butterfly.
Like all events at the 2024 Australian Swimming Trials, Cody Simpson’s efforts will be shown on Channel 9 and the 9 Network, and can be streamed via 9Now.
The heats session of each day will begin at 11am AEST, with the finals starting at 7:30pm.
TV Channel | Channel 9/9Gem |
Streaming | 9Now |
Cody Simpson is currently dating Emma McKeon, Australia’s most decorated Olympian and fellow swimmer.
McKeon has already qualified for what will be her third Olympic Games, after taking out the Women’s 100m butterfly earlier in the week.
She broke the record for most medals won by a female swimmer at a single Olympics in 2020, claiming seven total – four gold and three bronze – and her 11 total Olympic medals is the most ever by an Australian athlete.