Australian pop sensation Cody Simpson is no one-trick pony.
The singer and actor, 23, surprised fans son Sunday when he announced he was on the path to Tokyo after qualifying for the Australian Olympic trials in swimming.
The multi-talented star easily made the cut by swimming the 100m butterfly in 54.9 seconds, beating the qualifying benchmark of 56.87 seconds.
From pop star to pool legend! Cody Simpson surprised fans on Sunday when he announced he was on the path to Tokyo after qualifying for the Australian Olympic trials in swimming
The Los Angeles-based musician kicked off his intense training regimen at the start of the coronavirus pandemic less than a year ago.
Under the watchful eye of trainer Brett Hawke, he has dedicated countless hours to improving his speed and technique.
He will likely now be focused on shortening his time if he wants to win gold, as the last person to take the 100m butterfly crown was Singapore’s Joseph Schooling, who finished with a time of 50.39 at the Rio Olympics in 2016.
The son of two swimmers, Cody is no stranger to competing in the pool, having won multiple national swim competitions while growing up in Australia.
Great effort: The Los Angeles-based musician kicked off his intense training regimen at the start of the coronavirus pandemic less than a year ago
‘It was my first passion’: The son of two swimmers, Cody (pictured in 2008 with his swimming medals) is no stranger to competing in the pool, having won multiple competitions as a child
‘I started competing when I was about 10 years old – it was my first passion,’ Cody previously said.
‘I had other hobbies, of course, but swimming was something I instantly loved. It was and still is a massive part of who I am. I had dreams of making it to the Olympics.’
Cody’s musical career took off in 2010 while he was still living in Australia, following the success of his debut single iYiYi feat. Flo Rida.
Different path: Cody’s (centre) musical career took off in 2010 while he was still living in Australia, following the success of his debut single iYiYi feat. Flo Rida
Olympic training: In July, he revealed he was doing ‘oxygen deprivation training’, an exercise method commonly used by swimmers to improve the body’s tolerance of a lack of oxygen
Initially, he was able to balance his swimming and musical careers, until his family decided to uproot their lives and move to Los Angeles to help him realise his dreams of pop stardom.
The environmental activist had put his swimming training on hold for years until he finally returned to the pool last October to compete in the 2019 Trojan Invite.
In July, Cody revealed he was doing ‘oxygen deprivation training’, an exercise method commonly used by swimmers to improve the body’s tolerance of a lack of oxygen.
Covid-safe fitness: Cody is pictured working out with an exercise ball and wearing a face mask
Uploading a photo of himself working out wearing a face mask, Cody wrote on Instagram: ‘Be like water making its way through cracks. Do not be assertive, but adjust to the object, and you shall find a way around or through it.’
‘If nothing within you stays rigid, outward things will disclose themselves,’ he added.
Speaking to Men’s Health earlier this year, Cody revealed that he was able to maintain his swimmer’s physique during the Covid-19 pandemic by doing 20-minute, no-equipment workouts at home.
‘The philosophy and purpose of the workout is to maintain body weight strength, core stability and the fast-twitch fibre in your legs,’ he said.
‘A lot of us can’t get in the water right now and certainly can’t get into the gym, so we’re going try and replicate some of those motions right here on the mat.
‘The philosophy and purpose of the workout is to maintain body weight strength, core stability and the fast-twitch fibre in your legs.’
Fitness: Speaking to Men’s Health, Cody revealed he was able to maintain his swimmer’s physique during the Covid-19 pandemic by doing 20-minute, no-equipment workouts at home
In 2016, Cody revealed on social media that his primary school swimming records were ‘still holding up’ seven years later.
The songwriter uploaded a photo of the official best times for boys at Queensland primary schools, which showed that Cody still held two state records for 100m and 50m butterfly in his age bracket, set back in 2009 when he was just 12 years old.
The proof! In 2016, Cody famously revealed on social media that his primary school swimming records were ‘still holding up’ seven years later
Meanwhile, Cody’s swimming success saw him featured in several local newspaper reports in the Gold Coast prior to his rise to fame as a musician.
The now-defunct GoldCoast.com.au wrote of ‘Miami youngster Cody Simpson clinch(ing) gold in the under-12 100m butterfly final’ back in December 2009.
And Brisbane Swimming published the results of the 2009 Zoggs Queensland Championships, recording Cody winning the highest aggregate points for his age group.
Dedicated: Cody often uploads footage of himself honing his skills in the pool
Official records show he trained at the Pro-Ma Miami Swimming Club under coach Ken Nixon, while his doting mother Angie worked as a volunteer at the club.
On Sunday, Cody announced the exciting news that his dreams of Olympic stardom were coming to fruition.
Uploading a photo of himself posing triumphantly by a pool in his swimming shorts, Cody wrote: ‘I’d love to share this personal milestone and let you in on my current journey as an athlete that I’ve kept relatively low key until now,’ he wrote on Instagram on Sunday.
‘I have had the chance to experience so much as a musician from touring in arenas around the world, releasing top 10 albums, playing a leading man on Broadway, publishing a work of poetry, travelling with and speaking at the United Nations on environmental and oceanic matters and much more.’
‘For years I had been fuelled by the silent fire in my stomach of returning to my first love, the sport of swimming, with the idea that 2020 would be my year to have a crack at training again,’ he said.
‘After only 5 months back in the water training with my incredible coach, I was able to take out a win and secure a spot at next years Australian Olympic trials in the 100 fly.’
Cody’s swimming coach, two-time Olympian Brett Hawke, meanwhile praised Cody’s efforts on Instagram, revealing it was the singer’s first attempt at qualifying for the Olympics in a decade.
By his side: Cody’s swimming coach, two-time Olympian Brett Hawke (right), meanwhile praised Cody’s efforts on Instagram, revealing it was the singer’s first attempt at qualifying for the Olympics in a decade
‘We’ve been training only in a country club pool for five months during the pandemic,’ Brett wrote.
‘He did his first set of training dives in a real pool two weeks ago. He qualified for the Australian Olympic trials in his first attempt. Not bad for a pop star.’
The Australian Olympic swim trials will kick off on June 12 next year, while the Tokyo Olympic Games are scheduled between July 23 to August 8.
Case of the ex: Cody famously dated American pop star Miley Cyrus (left), but the couple parted ways earlier this year in August