Cody Simpson takes another heavy blow after 100m freestyle flop

Cody Simpson’s paths to the Olympics are closing up around him after a number of shock results at the national championships.

Cody Simpson during his first heat. Picture: NIGEL HALLETT

Roadblocks are appearing all over Cody Simpson’s paths to Paris.

The Aussie pop artist took a heavy blow on Thursday night at the Aussie swimming championships as superfish Kyle Chalmers took his place back on the men’s 100m freestyle throne.

On a dramatic night in the Gold Coast pool, Chalmers narrowly edged out rising star Kai Taylor in the event moments before Aussie middle distance queen Ariarne Titmus was stunned by Mollie O’Callaghan in the women’s 200m freestyle.

Simpson on Thursday morning failed to qualify for the final of the men’s 100m freestyle and his results in the B-Final on Thursday night were only enough for him to finish the event as the 17th overall fastest swimmer.

The performances on the Gold Coast are clouded with mystery. All the athletes are focusing on the World Championship trials in June and this week’s results may not be a true reflection of where they really sit in the pecking order. .

However, Thursday night shows Simpson’s dream of competing at the Paris 2024 Olympics is at risk of being dashed.

It comes after he also bombed out in his pet event on Wednesday night, finishing eighth in the 100m butterfly.

Cody Simpson had plenty to celebrate in the Birmingham pool. Picture: Michael Klein

The result saw a knee-jerk reaction with suggestions Simpson was better off focusing on freestyle in the hopes of being selected on the 100m freestyle relay team for the World Championships held in Fukuoka, Japan, in July, and the Paris Games.

However, Thursday night shows he has a long way to come to book a ticket on the flight to France next year.

Simpson last year finished the 100m freestyle eighth overall at the selection trials for the Commonwealth Games, and came away from Birmingham with a gold and a silver medal for swimming in the heats of the 4x100m men’s freestyle relay and 4x100m medley relay.

Having finished 17th overall — fifth in the B-Final and with a time of 50.25 seconds — Simpson was more than two seconds slower than Chalmers.

Chalmers, meanwhile, looked back to his best and had a grin from ear to ear after taking out the national championship by just 0.41 seconds over boom teenage talent Taylor.

Flynn Southam, 17, as third with a time of 48.53.

Chalmers said after the race he was as happy as he has ever been in the pool and is having fun away from swimming.

He said he has been working as a labourer on a building site a couple times a week.

He said the fun he has been having away from the sport has been “massive” in helping him to perform in the pool.

According to News Corp Chalmers said he is swimming largely pain-free, something he has not been able to say for some time.

“The body’s the best it’s been since probably 2020,” he said.

“(That) was when I had shoulder problems, in March 2020, so I’ve had two shoulder surgeries since then.

“I had a few cortisone (injections) straight after NSW states because my shoulders were a bit tender – I’m always going to be in a little bit of pain but they’re feeling the best they have in a really long time and I think my mind is probably the best it’s felt since 2016.

“I feel the happiest I have in and out of the pool, I’m loving training, loving life and having a lot of fun with it, so I’m very grateful for that.”

Southam and Taylor are among a hugely talented next generation of swimmers coming through that further threaten Simpson’s chances of qualifying for the Paris Games.

Australia's Cody Simpson looks at his time after the butterfly on Wednesday night.

The men’s 100m butterfly is now one of the deepest events in Australian swimming with Simpson, national champion Matt Temple, Chalmers, Olympian David Morgan and a squad of emerging talents all competing to represent Australia in the event.

Ben Armbruster, 20, was second on Wednesday, just 0.47 seconds behind Temple. Jesse Coleman, 18, also showed he is a real threat with a time of 52.59.

Armbruster is emerging as a future star of Aussie swimming after also finishing fourth in the men’s 50m freestyle earlier on Wednesday. He also took out the 50m butterfly and the 100m backstroke earlier this meet.

There are a lot of sharks in the water when it comes to the 100m butterfly.

“I think it’s very exciting,” Temple said of the hot competition. “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.”

It is a long year for swimmers. Picture: Nigel Hallett

With the Aussie team carrying up to six freestyle swimmers for the relay events it still may be Simpson’s best hope to secure a spot on the Australian team.

With just 15 months to go before the Paris Games, the decision of what path he should walk is one Simpson must make very soon.

The Australian trials, held in Melbourne in June, ahead of the World Championships, held in Fukuoka, Japan, in July, will be crunch time for Simpson to make a decision.

He has repeatedly said Paris is his ultimate goal and remains well ahead of where he thought he would be heading towards an Olympics debut.

The pop star started his swimming comeback journey just three years ago after 10 years away from the pool and he did it as something of a sideshow alley attraction. In Birmingham he proved he is box-office on his swimming credentials alone.

Originally published as Cody Simpson takes another heavy blow after 100m freestyle flop