Cody Simpson may have left his glamorous life as a pop star behind to pursue his swimming career, but it was his musical talent that helped win over his new girlfriend, Olympic superstar Emma McKeon.
The glamorous new Aussie sporting couple gave a glimpse of their relationship before heading into the Commonwealth Games pool, telling Channel 7’s Spotlight show on Sunday night that they have found common ground in their competitive and inflexible personalities.
McKeon, who was one of Australia’s stars at the Tokyo Olympics last year, winning four gold medals, said it was inspiring to watch Simpson strive to make the Australian team in swimming.
“He believed he could do it. And that’s something that inspires me and a lot of people, it’s just believing in yourself and you can do it,” she told Spotlight .
“I’m someone who puts pressure on myself to do what I want to do and that’s the same. I guess it’s kind of like a stubborn mindset. Just being like, ‘No, this is what I want and I’m going to work for it.’ And I am like that.
Simpson, 25, said he and McKeon talk “everyday about how happy we are” and that he “wooed” her with his singing.
“You know, when you meet someone, you just recognize that there’s something there. I’ve always seen her as that special person to me. Like… overall, a pretty inspiring human. I always recognized that there was a connection we had, but we didn’t act until what ended up being a year later.
The singing sensation, who shot to global success after rising to YouTube fame at the age of 12, dated Miley Cyrus, Kylie Jenner and Gigi Hadid and recently launched her own fashion line.
He could so easily have gone on to live the life of a pop star, but his love of the water, the pain of training and ‘going to the edge’ kept reminding him.
And when the risky decision appeared to pay off – with the announcement he made of the Australian squad – McKeon was at his side to share the moment.
But the real test awaits August 1 in Birmingham, when the 25-year-old will compete in the men’s 100m butterfly heats.
And don’t miss the couple’s first interview tonight 7NEWS Spotlight, 8.45pm Sunday on Channel 7 and 7plus
