Why former world champion James Magnussen believes Cody Simpson’s Olympic dream is over

Pop sensation turned into Olympic swimming hope Cody Simpson could qualify for the Olympic Games in Paris next week, but former world champion James Magnussen believes the goal is a step too far.

Simpson, 27, stunned the music scene when he returned to the pool in 2019 after showing promise at national level as a youngster before pursuing a music career in the US.

Although he missed out on selection for the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, he made the selection for the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.

The sprinter took gold in the 4 x 100-meter freestyle relay team and silver in the 4 x 100-meter medley relay – but in Simpson’s eyes, participating in the Olympic Games is the ultimate sporting achievement.

Cody Simpson (photo) hopes to qualify for the Paris Games this week

Retired champion swimmer James Magnussen thinks the goal is a step too far for Simpson

It seemed difficult to achieve the feat this year as several other swimmers gave him a run for his money in both the 100m butterfly and 100m freestyle.

‘Do I think he can make it? I think this Olympic team is probably just a step too far for Cody,” Magnussen wrote in one News Corp column.

‘It would be great news for world swimming if he were to qualify, but I just think the depth we have now in his two events will be too strong for him.

“If you look at the times, his best chance is the 100m freestyle.

“You have six chances to qualify for that relay team, making Thursday night’s race one of the most watched races of the entire Olympic trials.

‘If he can swim a final of 48.30 seconds, he will probably make the team.

‘If he makes bombs in the 100 meter freestyle, it’s not the end of the world. He still has the 100m butterfly on Saturday, but Matt Temple and Shaun Champion will be tough to beat as young athletes on the upswing.

“So I would place a lot of importance on the 100-meter freestyle and try to get that sixth place in that relay.”

Simpson hopes to draw some inspiration from partner Emma McKeon

Magnussen emphasized how difficult it is to make the team and said he would be the first to congratulate Simpson if he pulled it off.

Simpson doesn’t have to look far for inspiration: the eleven medals his girlfriend won at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro and 2020 Tokyo Games make Emma McKeon the most decorated Australian swimmer in Olympic history.

“I definitely learned a lot from the way she deals with ups and downs, successes and failures,” he said GQ last week.

“We both obviously have a lot of emotional baggage around each of our performances and careers… we try not to impose it on each other, while still being that supportive figure.

‘We don’t talk about swimming much at home.’