Cody Simpson is about to win a Commonwealth Games medal. Seriously.
The pop star, who started his swimming comeback journey two years ago as something of a sideshow alley attraction, is about to achieve the unthinkable.
The 25-year-old was selected to swim in the men’s 4x100m relay on Saturday night (AEST) and he helped the Aussie team cruise through to the final, which is scheduled for Sunday morning.
Australia is the red hot favourite in the event and is almost certain to pick up a medal — unless disaster or disqualification strikes.
Simpson swam the second leg in the heat, but is not expected to swim in the final.
The Aussie team took care of business in the heats, touching the wall ahead of England with 17-year-old Flynn Southam posting the fastest leg time of 47.89 marginally ahead of Simpson’s 48.86.
As a relay heats swimmer, Simpson will receive any medal the Aussie team wins in the final.
It is perhaps the most significant development in his entire swimming journey after he announced his decision to return to the pool two years ago after more than 10 years away from the sport where he became an international pop star and dated some of the most famous people in Hollywood, including Gigi Hadid and Miley Cyrus.
Simpson’s time was even quick enough for him to be in the conversation for a spot in the team for the final.
Kyle Chalmers, William Yang and Zac Incerti will all come into the team for the final and it is now expected that teen star Southam will take up the final spot after he smashed the heats.
Simpson revealed after the heats that it was special to compete in the heats, regardless of whether he receives a medal or not.
“That would be unreal for sure,” he said.
“Australia has so much depth in freestyle, so to be able to be in with those guys is awesome.
“It’s awesome to be in there with these guys. I’ve watched them… for years so to be doing it with these guys is pretty special.”
Simpson revealed he was touched on the shoulder by coach Peter Bishop during the Aussie team’s recent training camp and was told he was a chance of swimming in the freestyle relay.
Simpson said he shifted his focus slightly to give freestyle more attention alongside his preferred butterfly events after having the conversation with Bishop. He kept his freestyle shift secret for the past few weeks and it paid off when he was told two days ago that he would be swimming in the relay heat.
His dream of representing Australia already came true on Friday when he competed in the semi-finals of the men’s 50m butterfly.
However, all three of the Aussies in the event were wiped out in the semi-final and Australia was not represented in the final in a major shock.
Simpson was a surprise entrant in the event after Isaac Cooper’s withdrawal and was happy to have two competitive swims ahead of the 100m butterfly.
The 25-year-old’s journey from music artist to swimming star has captivated Australia this year since he qualified for the Commonwealth Games at the Australian Swimming Championships in May.
After sneaking into the Dolphins’ team as the third-fastest swimmer in the 100m butterfly — his pet event — Simpson was expected to be a minor footnote in the gold rush the Aussie team is expected to deliver at the Commonwealth Games.
However, he still has the potential to win three medals.
He will compete in the men’s 100m butterfly, but it is in the relays that Simpson has his best chances of winning a gold medal.
On top of the men’s 4x100m freestyle relay, Simpson is also a very real chance to be selected as a heats swimmer in the men’s 4x100m medley relay.
He was the third fastest in the butterfly event at the national championships, but national champion Matt Temple and Chalmers are expected to be rested from the heats before swimming in the final.
Originally published as Things are about to get crazy for Cody Simpson at Commonwealth Games
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