Australian Swimming Championships: Cody Simpson finishes eighth in 100m butterfly final

The signs aren’t good for Cody Simpson after last night’s 100m butterfly final – but is there another way the former pop star can make the Olympic team?

Cody Simpson (C) finished eighth. Picture: Pat Hoelscher/AFP

Cody Simpson’s path to Paris is looking ever more cluttered, with a bevy of young guns emerging in the 100m butterfly just over a year out from the Olympics.

Commonwealth Games silver medallist Matt Temple won the event in 51.49sec ahead of young gun Ben Armbruster (51.96), with Simpson finishing in eighth place, almost two seconds behind the winner.

Simpson made his first open Australian team at last year’s Commonwealth Games but has a massive job ahead to seal a place at either the world championships in Fukuoka in July, or next year’s Olympics in Paris if the 100m butterfly remains his main goal.

While comparing athletes’ times at this week’s national championships is like comparing apples and oranges given the differing stages of their preparations, it’s plain to see Simpson has plenty of work to do to if he is going to muscle his way into Australia’s top two.

Temple, who also finished 0.6sec ahead of clubmate Kyle Chalmers (fourth 52.09), remains in hard work and was pleased with his progression ahead of June’s world championship trials.

“I think these sort of meets each month are good stepping stones for world champs,” Temple said.

Cody Simpson (C) finished eighth. Picture: Pat Hoelscher/AFP

“I went 53.0 at SA states and then 52.0 at New South Wales states, so to go 51.4 is a good step in the right direction.”

Temple is all but a lock for one spot should he remain healthy, leaving Simpson a massive job to get on to the team in his pet event.

As well as the likes of Chalmers – who continues to contemplate adding the butterfly to his program – and Olympian David Morgan (seventh 52.98), a new brigade is charging and is only likely to continue to improve over the next year.

Armbruster is having a spectacular meet, winning the 50m butterfly in an Australian allcomers record on the opening night before picking up the 50m backstroke on night two and finishing fourth in the 50m freestyle.

Simpson with partner Emma McKeon. Picture: Nigel Hallett

Despite the 50m freestyle being less than half an hour before the 100m butterfly final on Wednesday night, Armbruster still managed to dip under the 52sec barrier - the second time he had managed the feat in the day after qualifying fastest through the morning heats.

Temple, certainly, knows the likes of Armbruster, 18-year-old Jesse Coleman (fifth 52.59) and Damian Badenhorst, 19, (ninth 53.57) will keep him honest.

“I think it’s very exciting,” Temple said.

“It always keeps you on your toes with people coming up.

“And yeah, for those boys - I know Jesse had a big week last week (at Australian age titles) - and Ben to go under 52 twice in one day with also the 50 free, credit to him.”

Simpson’s best avenue to qualify might yet be through the 100m freestyle and a place on the relay team.

His comeback to the sport has included breaking the 50sec barrier in the event and while it is an event in which Australia has great depth - and a former Olympic champion - it may yet be his best chance.

He will line up in the 100m heats on the final day of the national championships on the Gold Coast on Thursday with the eighth-fastest qualifying time among Australians.

With the possibility of six athletes being selected to the Olympic team for the sprint relay, Simpson may be best off putting all his eggs in the freestyle basket.