Simpson drops retirement clue in cryptic post

Cody Simpson has given the strongest indication yet his swimming career is drawing to a close in a somewhat cryptic post to his Instagram story.

The former popstar made a sensational return to the pool in 2020 and did enough to qualify for the Tokyo Olympics trials, although didn't make the squad.

His goal since his return has been Paris 2024, a dream that looks very much alive after he claimed his maiden outright national title in the 100-metre freestyle at the Australian Short Course Championships at Sydney Olympic Park last week.

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He backed it up on Friday by winning his second in the 100-metre butterfly.

On Wednesday, Simpson took to Instagram celebrating the butterfly win by reposting a Wide World of Sports replay of the race.

"Went down to Sydney last week to race during my training season for the Short-Course Australian Champs," he said in the caption.

"Was stoked to be relatively near personal best times while under training fatigue.

"Thought I'd share videos for my American mates who always wonder what the hell I'm doing."

But it was the next photo that was more telling. In a photo of his two gold medals and his 50-metre butterfly silver, Simpson said: "My second and last ever Aussie short-course champs. It's been real".

Given the next Australian Short Course Championships are after next year's Olympics, the post is another indication Simpson could return to music after this Olympic cycle.

Simpson's three main events are the 50-metre and 100-metre butterfly, and the 100-metre freestyle.

He faces a massive challenge to make the Australian team anyway – the 50-metre butterfly is not an Olympic event, and only two swimmers from each country can be entered in any event.

Also, the qualifying time for the 100-metre freestyle is 48.34 seconds (his PB is 49.11 seconds) and 51.67 seconds in the butterfly (his PB is 51.78).

Simpson missed out on a spot at the World Championships in Fukuoka earlier this year after finishing only fifth in the butterfly and seventh in the freestyle. 

Simpson made his first appearance in the Dolphins team at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, where he won a gold and a silver as part of the 4×100-metre freestyle and 4×100-metre medley relays.

Simpson will continue his pursuit of Paris 2024 when he competes at the World Cups in Berlin, Athens and Hungary next month.

His final chance to secure selection for Paris 2024 will come at next year's Australian Olympic trials, scheduled for June.