Featured Image Credit: @thecgf/Twitter
Topics: Sport, Music, World News, Australia
Tom Fenton
Not content with conquering the world of music, Australian Cody Simpson is now embarking on a new career as a professional swimmer - and he could hardly have asked for a better start to his new life.
Aged just 25, Simpson has already risen to pop music stardom, having earned three certified gold singles, the most notable being his his hit song iYiYi - which has over 27 million views on YouTube (at the time of writing).
The Aussie heartthrob isn't content to rest of his laurels, however, and in search of a new challenge, he has decided to put his focus on swimming.
As the man himself puts it, as reported by Brobible, swimming was 'an itch that never went away', and after a few years of training, Simpson is now in a position to challenge for medals at major championships.
It all began with the Australian team trials earlier this year, where the Aussie swimming team for the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham was be selected.
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Simpson finished third in the 100m Butterfly event at the trials, earning a seat on the plane to Brum in the process.
While not tipped to medal at the games, it's surely a sign that he on the right track - especially as he now claims to be 'pretty much 100 percent' focused on swimming.
Simpson was in the pool on the very first day of the Commonwealth Games, finishing second in his 50 meter butterfly heat.
However, the interesting sub-plot around Simpson's swimming debut is who he'll be racing against.
One of his biggest rivals in the Butterfly event is fellow Aussie Kyle Chalmers, who previously dated Simpson's current girlfriend, swimming legend Emma McKeon.
The 28-year-old Australian starlet is an 11-time Olympic Medalist, and four-time world record holder in the pool.
Simpson and Chalmers are set to duel it out on Saturday evening in the Semi-final of the men's 50m Butterfly event - where sparks are definitely expected to fly.
Whatever happens in Birmingham, Simpson already has some pretty substantial support. Earlier this week, the former musician announced he had penned a deal with swimming clothing giant Speedo, who will continue to back his career until 2024.
"I’m proud to announce I have signed with @speedo & am officially swimming professionally. It marks the accomplishment of a dream I’ve had since I was a little boy. Stoked to have their support moving forward through to 2024, beginning with my first Australian team," he wrote in a Tweet.
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