Cody Simpson put his singing career on hold to try to reach the Olympic Games, but his dream was crushed by less than half a second.
The former pop star will not make it to Paris 2024 after failing to secure her place in the Australian national team’s qualifying rounds in Brisbane on Saturday.
Simpson, 27, placed fifth in the men’s 100-meter butterfly final behind Matt Temple, who won in 51.15 seconds, Ben Armbruster in 51.23 seconds, Shaun Champion in 51.40 seconds and Jesse Coleman, who finished in 51.51 seconds.
Despite his agonizing loss, trailing Mr Coleman by just 0.28 seconds, Simpson said the experience was “absolutely incredible”.
“I’m proud of myself and I knew tonight was going to be difficult,” he said.
Former pop star Cody Simpson will not make the Paris Olympics after placing fifth in the 100m butterfly qualifying final in Brisbane on Saturday night.
Despite losing by just 0.28 seconds, Simpson said the experience was “absolutely incredible.”
Simpson added that he wouldn’t think about the loss as he gave it his all.
“I knew I was going to have to bring something out of myself, but I was very close to my best swimming,” he said.
‘All you can do is all you can do, which is a saying I quite like because what else can you do?
‘It’s been absolutely incredible. “I gave everything I had this week and sometimes that’s all you can do.”
Simpson said the four years he spent traveling the world competing for Australia in other tournaments leading up to the Olympics were “incredible” and a “privilege”.