Cody Simpson says he respects Kyle Chalmers’ decision to take his place in the world championships in Budapest next month and delay the singer-turned-swimmer’s fairytale return to the pool after a 10-year absence.
Simpson looked to have secured the second spot at the FINA World Championships with a third-placed finish in the 100m butterfly before Chalmers walked back his decision to sit out the meet after qualifying in second place.
Speaking on the Today show on Monday morning, Simpson said he and Chalmers had cleared the air after a “whirlwind week” at the Australian Swimming Championships in Adelaide.
“I was holding my breath all week, wondering what decision Kyle was going to make,” he said.
“He’s obviously in his right - he qualified second, so I was going to respect whatever decision he wanted to make.”
The 25-year-old’s place in the Dolphins squad for the Commonwealth Games was finally confirmed on Sunday night, with the Australians able to enter three swimmers in the 100m fly in Birmingham.
Simpson, a promising junior swimmer before he turned his attention to music, said he hoped he would be an example for kids to take up and stick with the sport.
“I kind of wanted to show that there are ways to do it that are unconventional, and you can come back and swim later,” he said. “You don’t have to train 10 times a week from the age of eight to potentially tap into your potential later.”
Cody Simpson at the Dolphins Commonwealth Games squad announcement on SundayCredit:Getty Images
Simpson’s return to the pool has attracted widespread public interest in Australian swimming, which often struggles for attention outside of Olympic and Commonwealth competition, but that publicity has also come at a cost.
Chalmers was absent for the Dolphins squad announcement and blasted the media’s coverage of Simpson’s relationship with Emma McKeon, who reportedly once dated Chalmers, saying his decision to compete was purely because his shoulder and times were better than expected.
Simpson said he and Chalmers were looking forward to resuming rivalries in Birmingham in two months.
“It’s exciting that he’s in this event because it only makes it that much more competitive for me,” he said. “It’s that much more inspiring to want to improve and have more healthy rivals here in Australia.”
But he was quick to shut down questions from Today host Karl Stefanovic about his relationship with McKeon.
“Mate, I’m here to talk about my swimming,” he said.
“It’s nice to be on the same team. We’re going to England - it’ll be a nice holiday.”
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