'Amazing swim': World loses it over 'remarkable' Cody Simpson feat
Pop star Cody Simpson has missed out on a spot at the Tokyo Olympic Games despite an extraordinary swim in the 100m butterfly heats on Thursday.
The 24-year-old - who put his singing career on hold to chase his swimming dream - qualified for Thursday night's final at the Australian Olympic swim trials in Adelaide, after posting the sixth-fastest time overall.
WOW: Ariarne Titmus stuns swimming world in 'utterly incredible' moment
HUGE TWIST: Truth emerges about photo in Aussie swim furore
SO SAD: Devastating tragedy behind Aussie teen's world record
Simpson placed third in his heat in a personal-best time of 52.84 seconds, taking almost a second off his previous mark.
However Simpson's dreams of qualifying for the Tokyo Olympics were officially ended when he finished last in Thursday night's final.
Simpson touched the wall in 52.94 seconds, well above the qualification mark of 51.7 seconds.
Matthew Temple broke the Australian record with a time of 50.45.
Simpson has previously stated that his main goal is to qualify for the 2024 Olympics in Paris but admitted he was "stoked" to have done so well at this year's trials in Adelaide.
Fans around the world were left gobsmacked by the singer's extraordinary display.
Just achieved my 2 goals for this year at once! An Olympic trials final and a 52. 100m Butterfly swim. Stoked for tonight!
— Cody Simpson (@CodySimpson) June 17, 2021
Meanwhile, in Australia @CodySimpson went 52.84 in prelims of the 100 butterfly. That time's no joke.
— Kyle Sockwell (@kylesockwell) June 17, 2021
Amazing swim. I am pumped for tonight. You got this Cody.
— Beckyjune (@Beckyjune001) June 17, 2021
WELL DONE ON MAKING THE FINAL SO PROUD OF YOU @CodySimpson 💚
— son loves ashton| 160 days (@hazeldrummers) June 17, 2021
Wait whats happening I saw Cody Simpson on Broadway in Anastasia two years ago and now he's in an olympic trial final heat for butterfly?
— Michael T. Stack (@domilemon) June 17, 2021
Former popstar Cody Simpson pivoted to swimming in the last few years. Looks like it's paying off -- he just made the final of the 100 fly 👀 https://t.co/Bql2bcK0IO
— Laine Higgins (@lainehiggins17) June 17, 2021
truly wild to me that cody simpson genuinely doing well at swimming olympic trials bc this one girl in 6th grade was in love w him
— m'thman (@intrnevermind) June 17, 2021
You amaze me sweet Cody
— @𝓿𝓲𝓬𝓴𝓲𝓵𝓮𝔀𝓲𝓼1 (@Vickilewis1) June 17, 2021
Cody Simpson's remarkable return to swimming career
The 24-year-old Simpson was a talented junior who stopped swimming and became a global recording star.
He made a serious return to swimming last year after more than a decade on the sidelines.
He finished 23rd in the 200m butterfly rankings out of the 92 swimmers who competed in the heats.
“I wanted to just get up and do something before the 100 ’fly otherwise I would be waiting around all week,” Simpson said after his first taste of competition at the trials.
“Just being around all these athletes ... I love this, I really want to do this for a while."
with AAP
Watch 'Mind Games', the new series from Yahoo Sport Australia exploring the often brutal mental toil elite athletes go through in pursuit of greatness:
Click here to sign up to our newsletter for all the latest and breaking stories from Australia and around the world.