Cody Simpson lands AFL Grand Final gig after ending swimming career

Cody Simpson called an end to his swimming career after missing the Australian Paris Olympic team but his next steps are now clear.

Cody Simpson’s next step towards reigniting his singing career has been announced with the artist and swim star to sing the national anthem on AFL Grand Final day.

While Simpson has never been too far from the microphone, singing the anthem at the 2022 AFLW Grand Final and Melbourne Cup, the focus on returning to his singing career is clear with the latest announcement.

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Simpson shocked the world in 2020 when he announced that he was hanging up the microphone for a few years in a bid to become an Olympian.

But after missing the Australian team, Simpson announced he was heading back to his music career.

With Katy Perry already announced as the headliner, Simpson said he was excited to grace the stage on the biggest day on the AFL calendar.

“I’m stoked beyond words to have been asked to sing the biggest national anthem of the year at the AFL grand final,” Simpson said in a statement.

“It’s a special and timely opportunity for me to step back on stage for the first time after my sporting career.

“As an Australian, it’s one of the greatest honours and I hope I can deliver something that everyone can sing along to and share in the pride of being a member of this beautiful country.”

Cody Simpson singing at the 2022 Melbourne Cup. Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images

Swimming both butterfly and freestyle, Simpson did a remarkable job in his short return to swimming despite falling short of his ambitious goal, finishing fifth in the 100m butterfly final at the Australian Paris Olympics trials.

He also finished with the sixth fastest time in the 100m freestyle final, which likely would have given him a 4x100m berth at the Olympics, except it was in the B final after missing the top eight times in the semi-finals.

Australia’s men’s 4x100m team ultimately finished with the silver in the Olympic final.

However, it was a remarkable effort from Simpson, who qualified for the Birmingham Commonwealth Games in 2022, finishing fifth in the 100m butterfly, as well as winning relay gold in the men’s 4x100m freestyle and silver in the men’s 4x100m medley.

Simpson, who has been dating Olympic legend Emma McKeon since 2022, called an end to his swimming career in an Instagram post in June.

“All you can do is everything you can to take what you’ve been given as far as you can take it,” he wrote in part.

“I left nothing to the unknown these past four years and I can now rest knowing I put my pedal to the floor every day and covered every other little detail to take this as far as it could go and it sure went a hell of a ways.

“I’m grateful for a huge run in the short amount of time I have been a professional athlete and I wouldn’t trade a moment.

“I promise I will never stop trying to do special things with my life. Shoot for the moon … land among the stars.

“My shot has landed me in a constellation of stars otherwise known as that elusive club, the Australian Swim Team, forever. Thank you swimming.”

Simpson and McKeon. Photo: Instagram

Simpson gave his swimming career a fair shake. Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images

It was also announced that multi-ARIA award-winning artist Christine Anu, and her daughter and singer-songwriter Zipporah Corser-Anu would perform during the First Nations ceremony.

Grand Final staple Mike Brady will also of course sing Up There Cazaly, as pat of the AFL retiree motorcade.

AFL CEO Andrew Dillon welcomed the Aussie artists joining the bill.

“The AFL is proud to have a host of talented Australian artists as part of our Telstra Pre-Game Entertainment as we celebrate the end of another outstanding season,” Dillon said.

“Cody, Christine, Zipporah and Mike are no strangers to performing on some of the biggest stages and are ready to put on a spectacular show at the ‘G on the last Saturday in September.

Originally published as Cody Simpson lands AFL Grand Final gig after ending swimming career