Celebrity swimmer Cody Simpson says it's cool. And crazy.
The pop star turned swimmer says he took to his first experience on an Australian team like a duck to water.
"Two months ago, I wasn't even sure I would be here, I was just trying to get on the team," Simpson said.
"So this is pretty cool.
"It's cool because my mind is swimming and the sport of swimming, the training and the racing."
Simpson will depart the Commonwealth Games with a gold medal as a heat swimmer in Australia's triumphant 4x100m freestyle relay.
He came fifth in the 100m butterfly final; reached the semis in the 50m 'fly.
And he has no regrets about stepping away from global pop fame for the grind of the pool.
"The whole thing is suited to my personality and my mind," Simpson said.
"It's very rewarding to me to just do it and train on a daily basis.
"I didn't find it too hard to kind of adjust to the lifestyle and integrate myself into my training environment.
"I'm living just the way any other swimmer is doing at this point."
Simpson has been studying every one of his fellow Dolphins, from girlfriend Emma McKeon to roommate Mack Horton.
"It's kind of crazy, I sort of more watch what people do," he said.
"Every time I come away from a race, I learn something ... I have inspiration to go back and train even harder to perform even better next time."
McKeon, Australia's golden girl, was a twist of nerves when watching Simpson's 100m 'fly final on Tuesday night.
"I was way more nervous to watch him than I was for my 100 (freestyle final)," she said.
"I love sharing this experience with him."
McKeon said the Birmingham experience was effectively reconnaissance for her boyfriend.
"I'm sure he'll be happy with that (fifth). It's his first international experience and a lot of us have been doing it for years," she said.
"It's just gaining intel, that's what he's doing here.
"I know he wants to be on the Olympic team in two years time so every race he gets to do at this kind of level is adding intel for him.
"He's probably racing like we were when we were 15 (years old) in terms of his experience."
