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There’s set to be a reunion of the so-called pool love triangle between Emma McKeon, Cody Simpson and Kyle Chalmers, with the trio to rub shoulders again at the Australian short course championships in Sydney this week.
The tournament, where swimmers race in a 25m pool instead of 50m, is the first time all three will be on a pool deck together since the Commonwealth Games.
Chalmers, who dated McKeon briefly last year, brought on a storm of attention at the Games when he had repeated run-ins with the media over the coverage of his life both in and out of the pool.
McKeon, the most decorated Olympian in Australia’s history, has since moved on with singer-turned-swimmer Simpson – with the pair both competing at the Duel in the Pool event over the weekend.
Cody Simpson and Emma McKeon, pictured on a recent European holiday, are competing at the Australian short course championships this week
Kyle Chalmers is returning to the pool deck for the first time since the Commonwealth Games
Simpson and Chalmers are set to compete in two events against each other at the National short course titles, which begin on Wednesday: the 50m and 100m freestyle.
It’s yet another u-turn for Chalmers, who slammed speculation in May that he only reason he took part in the 100m butterfly was to ensure Simpson missed out on a spot on the World Championship team.
Simpson appeared to have booked himself a spot at the champs when he finished third in the event at the National titles behind Chalmers and winner Matt Temple.
Cody Simpson and Emma McKeon enjoy a holiday after the Commonwealth Games
Australia could only field two representatives, but Simpson was expected to make it because Chalmers would drop out due to his busy schedule and need to preserve his body after picking up serious injuries.
However just two days later, the freestyle gold medalist backflipped and decided he would swim the 100m butterfly, leaving Simpson out in the cold.
After all that, Chalmers didn’t make past the semi finals at the tournament in Hungary, though he denied the decision to backflip was personal.
‘I think for me, I started out a butterflyer, I’ve wanted to be a butterflyer my whole career. My body just hasn’t allowed me to do so, so for me just being able to swim butterfly is so special,’ he told 2Day FM at the time.
‘Unfortunately, yeah, I’m the one who has to stand up and apologise and be made out to be the villain when all I’ve done is given everything to my sport and my country.’
Emma McKeon and Cody Simpson pictured before practice at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham last month
McKeon, Australia’s most decorated Olympian, will compete in four events this week
He isn’t a butterflyer at this tournament: the only stroke he will be competing in is freestyle over 50, 100 and 200m.
Australian coach Rohan Taylor confirmed Chalmers was set to make his return to the pool from Wednesday, joining an all-star team.
‘Once Melbourne got the world short course, it was amazing how many athletes went, “You know what, I’m going to have a crack”,’ Taylor told the Daily Telegraph.
‘I think there’s only a handful that aren’t putting themselves forward. For our best athletes to be participating in it, Kyle (Chalmers) and those, I’m a happy coach having the best talent on my team.’
Kyle Chalmers made a ‘silencing’ gesture, likely directed towards the media, after winning the 100m freestyle at the Commonwealth Games
Simpson will be spreading his wings, literally, and take part in five massive events, the 50 and 100m freestyle, 50 and 100m butterfly and the 100m individual medley.
McKeon, who first swam for Australia at the 2015 World Championships, will stick to events she nabbed medals in at Birmingham: the 50 and 100m freestyle and butterfly events.