Pop star turned swimmer Cody Simpson has Olympic dream dashed after missing out on Paris 2024 spot

Cody Simpson has put his singing career on hold to try to make it to the Olympics, but his dream has been crushed by less than half a second.

The former pop star will not make it to Paris 2024 after failing to secure his place in the Australian team’s qualifying rounds in Brisbane on Saturday.

Simpson, 27, came fifth in the men’s 100m butterfly final behind Matt Temple who won in 51.15 seconds, Ben Armbruster’s 51.23 seconds, Shaun Champion’s 51.40 seconds and Jesse Coleman who finished in 51.51 seconds .

Despite his painful loss, which saw him trail Mr Coleman by just 0.28 seconds, Simpson said the experience was ‘absolutely incredible’.

“I’m proud of myself and I knew it would be a close battle tonight,” he said.

Former pop star Cody Simpson will miss the Paris Olympics after finishing fifth in the 100m butterfly qualifying final in Brisbane on Saturday evening

Despite being just 0.28 seconds ahead, Simpson said the experience was ‘absolutely incredible’

Simpson added that he wouldn’t dwell on the loss as he gave it his all.

“I knew I would have to get something out of myself, but I was very close to my best swim,” he said.

“All you can do is all you can do, a saying I really like, because what else can you do?

‘It was absolutely incredible. I gave it 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 in the run-up to the Olympics were “amazing” and a “privilege”.

In addition to the 100m butterfly, Simpson had also attempted the 100m freestyle earlier in qualifying, where he missed once to make the final.

Simpson finished ninth in the 100m freestyle and of the eight who made the final, six were chosen to go to Paris.

Simpson also previously missed the final of the 100 meter freestyle by one slot, finishing ninth

To make matters worse, he later swam a time that would have put him in the top six had he made the final, which he reflected on at the time.

“I should have done that this morning,” Simpson said after his freestyle round.

‘Obviously you always swim faster at night, but it’s promising. My coach will slap me on the side of his cheek.

“Just a good lesson for the future, I guess, to make sure I’m ready to go in the morning.”