Sean McCann enjoys successful Commonwealth Games debut as brother of Madeleine is watched by family poolside

Sean is the younger brother of Madeleine McCann and was just two years old when his sister disappeared shortly before her fourth birthday during a holiday in Praia da Luz, Portugal in 2007.

His parents have been determined to give Sean and his twin sister Amelie as normal an upbringing as possible and Sean has been swimming seriously since the age of eight. This was his first senior international championship and he finished fourth in a fast heat in a time of three minutes 52.65 seconds to qualify, surprising himself in the process.

“It wasn't really an expectation coming in, especially with how strong the field was, but I'm delighted to see I've made it,” he said after the heat.

His 3:53.47 time in the final was marginally slower as Australia swept the board.

Given the family history, a lot of attention has been focused on McCann in recent days but he seemed assured as he spoke to the media at Tollcross International Swimming Centre.

“I wouldn't say I felt the pressure, but certainly I was nervous with so many people watching and I wanted to do not only not well for myself, but also Team Scotland as well,” he said. “I was definitely nervous, but glad I could produce a decent swim.”

His parents and sister Amelie cheered him on from high in the stand at the far end of the Tollcross pool. Like all the Scottish swimmers, his name was greeted with a roar from the home crowd.

“Yeah, it was amazing,” said McCann. “You could hear them the whole way through the race and it just spurred me on to really give it my all down that last hundred.”

McCann swims for Loughborough University where he combines sport with studying for a degree in chemical engineering. The family lives in Leicestershire and Sean opted to swim for Scotland, his father’s home country. Gerry, from Glasgow, Gerry is professor of cardiology at the University of Leicester and Glenfield Hospital while Kate, who was a GP, now helps dementia sufferers alongside helping to run their Madeleine's Fund.

Sean is also due to compete in the 800m and 1500m freestyle at the Commonwealth Games and hopes his performances can help him realise his goal of qualifying for the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles.

“I think the Olympics is always that step even further, so being able to represent Scotland here is a good stepping stone in the way to that,” he said. “Hopefully, with a couple more years of work, I'll put my name in the mix for the Olympics.”

McCann was the only Scot to make it through to the 400m freestyle final, with Charlie Hutchison and Luke Hornsey missing out.

Sam Short (3:41.25) took gold with fellow Aussies Elijah Winnington and Ben Goedemans winning silver and bronze.

He said his aptitude for swimming was evident early on.

“I just found from a young age I just really, really enjoy the competing and I think that makes all the hard hours and training worth it,” he added.

McCann was the only Scot to make it through to the 400m freestyle final, with Charlie Hutchison and Luke Hornsey missing out.