Meet Cody Simpson, Paris Olympics hopeful – and pop star: Kylie Jenner’s Australian ex paused his swimming career for music, but Michael Phelps and Ian Thorpe inspired him to get back in the pool

Name: Cody Simpson - Pretty Brown Eyes (Official Music Video)
Uploaded: 2024-05-15T21:00:20.000Z
Description: Cody Simpson - Pretty Brown Eyes (Official Music Video)

STORYCarolina Malis

May 16, 2024

Cody Simpson poses in a white singlet in March. Photo: @codysimpson/Instagram

Fame and celebrity

Simpson, 27, shot to fame as a heartthrob pop star who’s dated the likes of Gigi Hadid and Miley Cyrus, and worked with Justin Bieber and Flo Rida, but he’d always hoped to swim competitively for his country

The son of two swimmers, Simpson paused his music career in 2019 to get back in the pool – he’s also currently dating an Olympic gold medallist and fellow swimmer, Emma McKeon

In 2019, Australian former pop star Cody Simpson discreetly made the decision to return to his first love – swimming. Encouraged by swimming legends like Michael Phelps and Ian Thorpe, Simpson resumed his athletic career after watching the 2019 world swimming championships and questioning why he wasn’t competing.

Cody Simpson - Pretty Brown Eyes (Official Music Video)

In less than six months, he was back in shape and had qualified for the Australian Olympic trials in the 100-metre butterfly, marking an amazing comeback a decade after leaving competitive swimming, according to The New York Times.