Girlfriend celebrates with Cody Simpson after Tokyo Olympics dream crushed

Cody Simpson’s Tokyo dream was dashed but the Aussie sensation isn’t too upset as he spent Thursday celebrating with his girlfriend.

Aussie swimming sensation Cody Simpson’s Tokyo Olympics dream is over.

The 24-year-old shocked the world to qualify for the finals of the 100m butterfly event at the Australian Olympic Swimming Trials in Adelaide, but his run ended abruptly on Thursday night.

Simpson finished last in the final, a cruel reminder of the huge mountain he was trying to climb after returning to the sport last year following 10 years away pursuing a music career.

His journey back into professional swimming has captivated Australia and — even failing to qualify for the Tokyo Games, beginning July 23 — his journey will continue to create headlines.

Simpson has said all along he has been aiming for the 2024 Olympics in Paris — and Thursday showed just how hard it is to make the Australian Olympic swimming team.

Needing a time of less than 51.7 seconds to qualify, Simpson was blown out of the water by Matthew Temple, who broke an Australian record with a time of 50.45 seconds as he went on to book his ticket to Tokyo. David Morgan also qualified with a time of 51.67 seconds.

Simpson touched the wall with a time of 52.94 seconds — but imagine what he can do with three more years up his sleeve before the next Games.

Simpson earlier finished third in his heat with a time of 52.84 seconds, advancing to the final with the sixth quickest overall time — nearly a second quicker than his previous personal best.

Simpson is already eyeing off Paris 2024. (Photo by Mark Brake/Getty Images).

“What an experience racing at my first Australian Olympic Trials. To make a final was our goal this year and with less than a year of training we did just that,” Simpson wrote on Instagram.

“I’ve come so much further than I expected to this year and to be racing the best in the country already is a privilege. Thanks to @hawkebr and my training partner Matt Targett for pushing me everyday back in the USA throughout COVID and to my new coach Michael Bohl for the wisdom and swift preparation!

“I’m so psyched to get back to training. See you in 3 years.”

Some of the most important people in Simpson’s life expressed their admiration for the 24-year-old. Sister Alli commented on his Instagram post: “Proud is an understatement. Love you brother.”

Simpson’s girlfriend, model Marloes Stevens, posted “bravo” after his final swim then shared a clip of the pair dancing together at a party as music blared in the background, before Simpson gave her a peck on the cheek.

Coach Brett Hawke wrote on Instagram: “You went 54 (seconds) in December after 6 months training and you told me you’d be 52 at trials. Here you are 6 months later hitting your goals. Speaking things into existence. You are an example of excellence to every swimmer worldwide. You are not a singer who can swim anymore, but a swimmer who can sing.”

Simpson was in high spirits on Thursday night.

Stevens was incredibly proud of her partner.

Simpson’s butterfly effort came after he stretched his legs in the 100m freestyle heats earlier in the week, touching the wall in 50.22 seconds to take a huge 1.5 seconds off his previous personal best time — surprising even himself with how fast he went.

“I went a second-and-a-half PB, so I’m pretty stoked,” Simpson said on Tuesday. “Good swim, considering the 100 free is kind of a fun event for me.

“I just wanted to get in the water and see how much progress (I’ve) done. I’m super happy with it.”

A state champion as a junior, Simpson gave up swimming to pursue a career in music but the love of the pool never left and he re-committed to the sport last year, vowing to give qualifying for the Olympics a serious crack.

He didn’t have eyes on Tokyo at first, though. The Queenslander was looking long-term at the 2024 Games in Paris, but stunned everyone — including himself — by swimming fast enough late last year to earn himself a berth at this year’s Olympic trials.

Simpson has been training with former Aussie Olympian Brett Hawke in the United States, and has sought advice from swimming legends Ian Thorpe and Michael Phelps in a bid to make his dreams a reality.

Simpson is diving right into his Olympic dream. (Photo by Mark Brake/Getty Images).

Kaylee McKeown breaks Commonwealth record

Meanwhile, Kaylee McKeown did it again in Adelaide on Thursday with yet another record.

The 19-year-old set a new Commonwealth record in the final of the women’s 200m backstroke, adding another event to her program for the Tokyo Games.

Emily Seebohm also qualified in the event, booking her ticket to an amazing fourth Games.

McKeown earlier in the trials put the world on notice when she put in the fastest time in the world since August 2019 in the 200m individual medley in a personal best 2:08.19.

McKeown also broke the 100m backstroke world record earlier in the trials.