From Celebrated Pop Star to Olympic Hopeful: Cody Simpson On Chasing Big Dreams, Finding Himself & Lessons Learned From Sport & Stage
Sep 21, 2023
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Cody Simpson, a celebrated pop star and Olympic hopeful, shares his remarkable journey from music to competitive swimming. He discusses the challenges and triumphs of returning to the water after a decade, aiming for Olympic qualification. Simpson reflects on how his experiences as a performer enhance his athletic journey, emphasizing personal growth and perseverance. He dives into the complexities of pursuing dual passions and the importance of reconnecting with one's true self. Listeners are inspired by his insights on chasing dreams and embracing identity shifts.
Cody Simpson's return to competitive swimming after a decade showcases the power of determination and the ability to excel in new endeavors.
Cody Simpson defies societal expectations by leaving his successful pop star career to pursue competitive swimming, demonstrating the importance of authenticity and pursuing one's passions.
The speaker's journey in swimming emphasizes the significance of resilience, mindset, and embracing discomfort for personal growth and achievement.
Swimming serves as a form of salvation and grounding for the speaker, highlighting the transformative power of pursuing one's passions and finding fulfillment.
Deep dives
Cody Simpson's Unconventional Journey from Music to Competitive Swimming
Cody Simpson, a former pop star turned competitive swimmer, shares his unique journey of pursuing his childhood dream of competing in the Olympics. After years of global fame and success in the music industry, Cody felt unfulfilled and decided to return to swimming, a sport he loved as a kid. Despite the skepticism and challenges, Cody quickly began excelling in the pool and is now in the running to make the Australian Olympic team for Paris 2024. Through his experience, Cody aims to inspire others to let go of societal expectations and pursue their passions, regardless of age or previous accomplishments.
Challenges and Triumphs of Cody Simpson's Swimming Comeback
Cody Simpson's decision to return to competitive swimming after a decade is met with both support and skepticism. With the unique advantage of being a question mark in the sport, Cody defies expectations and pushes himself to reach new heights. While managing the pressures of performing in front of massive crowds as a pop star, Cody also learns to navigate the mental and physical demands of high-level swimming. Despite the challenges, Cody's determination, passion, and willingness to embrace the unknown guide him as he strives to achieve his dreams of making the Australian Olympic team for Paris 2024.
Cody Simpson's Transition from Pop Stardom to Olympic Aspirations
Cody Simpson's decision to walk away from his successful pop star career and pursue competitive swimming is met with curiosity and doubt. With his background in music and entertainment, Cody defies societal expectations and returns to the sport he loved as a child. The transition presents numerous challenges as Cody navigates the intense training, pressure, and competition of the swimming world. However, Cody's determination, talent, and unique journey give him a fresh perspective and provide him with the opportunity to push boundaries and reach new heights in his athletic pursuits.
Cody Simpson's Swim Endeavor: Overcoming Skepticism and Embracing Potential
Cody Simpson's decision to leave his pop star lifestyle and pursue a swimming career surprises many, leading to skepticism and doubt. However, Cody's passion for swimming and his desire to explore his full potential outweigh the naysayers. He embarks on an unconventional journey, rediscovering his love for the sport and defying the odds. Along the way, Cody confronts the mental and physical challenges of training and competition while staying resilient and focused on his goal of making the Australian Olympic team in 2024.
Rediscovering Purpose through Swimming
The podcast episode discusses how swimming became a form of salvation and purpose for the speaker. Despite getting caught up in a party lifestyle as a musician, the speaker found solace and grounding in returning to swimming. Swimming served as a sobering thought within the haze of their previous lifestyle, reminding them of their future goals and pulling them back to a healthier path. It ultimately saved them from sinking into destructive behaviors and provided a sense of fulfillment and happiness.
The Importance of Resilience and Mindset
Through the speaker's journey in swimming, the podcast highlights the importance of resilience and mindset in pursuing difficult goals. The speaker shares how they needed to develop resilience to overcome failures and setbacks in training. They learned not to fear failure but to see it as valuable information and a catalyst for growth. The speaker also emphasizes the significance of maintaining a mindset that embraces discomfort and pushes beyond perceived limits, as this is essential for progress and tapping into untapped potential.
Creating a New Path and Challenging Stereotypes
The podcast explores the speaker's decision to challenge societal expectations and pursue a new path. By stepping away from their successful music career and diving into swimming, the speaker defied stereotypes and expectations. They discuss the importance of authenticity and being true to oneself rather than conforming to traditional artist lifestyles. The speaker also highlights the transformative power of embracing one's interests and passions, even if they seem unconventional or unexpected, and how this can lead to a more fulfilling and meaningful life.
Imagine a young singer-songwriter of global acclaim—someone like Justin Timberlake or Shawn Mendes. Except this star also happens to be an elite athlete with an Olympic dream.
It sounds like fiction. But this is the true story of Cody Simpson.
Superstardom within reach, Cody Simpson put his guitar down and traded Hollywood for the black line at the bottom of a pool with one singular goal in mind: to compete in the Olympics.
It's the story of a chlorine-soaked little kid who became a global star. He traveled the world, performed before massive crowds, modeled for luxury brands, even acted on Broadway and in movies and television.
But something was missing. Out of an instinct for survival, he proceeded to do what many would consider unthinkable. He walked away from all of it. He couldn’t shake the feeling of what might have been had he not forsaken the Speedo for the stage and decided to do something about it.
World-class competitive swimming is a sport in which the elite never dare to take more than a month off here and there. Not only did Cody return to this sport after a dormant decade, he quickly began to excel beyond any reasonable expectation, clocking world-class times in the 100-meter butterfly.
Today we dive into the deep end of the pool and plumb Cody’s story. We trace his arc as a musician, what he learned as a performer that now helps him as an athlete, the whys and hows behind his Olympic dream, and how you can achieve two massive and wildly different goals in a lifetime.
Note: This conversation was recorded back in May of 2023 on the cusp of Australia’s World Championship Trials. Alas, Cody narrowly missed qualifying for that team but is back in super-focused training.
I coaxed Cody into performing a song at the end which you are not going to want to miss, so be sure to stick around.
