2 hours ago
The parents of Madeleine McCann shouted pinch pridefulness arsenic their boy Sean vanished eighth successful nan last of nan men’s 400m freestyle connected his Commonwealth Games debut for Scotland.
The 21-year-old, who studies astatine Loughborough University, was fixed a immense roar erstwhile he was announced to nan crowd. But he was incapable to lucifer nan gait group by Australia’s Sam Short, nan 2023 world champion, who took golden successful 3 mins 41.25 arsenic he vanished 12 seconds back.
But for McCann reaching nan last astatine each was a awesome achievement, particularly arsenic he was up against aggregate Olympic and world medallists.
“I’m buzzing,” said McCann, speaking aft he qualified by finishing 4th successful his greeting heat. “It wasn’t really an anticipation coming successful particularly pinch really beardown nan section was but I’m delighted to spot I made it.
“I wouldn’t opportunity I felt nan unit but I was surely tense pinch truthful galore group watching and I wanted to do good not only for myself but Team Scotland arsenic well. I was decidedly tense but I’m gladsome I produced a decent swim.
“It was amazing, I could perceive them nan full measurement done nan race. They spurred maine connected to really springiness it my each down that past 100m.”
McCann grew up successful England, but qualifies for Scotland done his father, Gerry, who was astatine nan Tollcross Swimming Centre, arsenic was his mother, Kate, to support their son. He and his copy sister, Amelie, were 2 years aged erstwhile Madeleine, past aged three, went missing during a family vacation successful Praia Da Luz, Portugal, successful 2007.
McCann started swimming earnestly astatine Charnwood Triathlon Club erstwhile he was eight, and by nan property of 10 had joined nan precocious capacity City of Leicester club. He has been portion of nan Scottish swimming programme since his teens.
Asked astir his information for wanting to swim, he said: “From a young property I really enjoyed competing. That makes each nan difficult hours successful training worthy it, coming retired present successful beforehand of a crowd for illustration this and swimming arsenic good arsenic I tin really.
after newsletter promotion
McCann is studying chemic engineering astatine Loughborough, wherever he is coached by Andi Manley, who is starring nan England squad successful Glasgow. He will besides compete successful nan 800m and 1500m freestyle and hopes it will beryllium a launchpad to becoming an Olympian astatine nan 2028 Games successful Los Angeles.
“The Olympics is ever that measurement moreover further truthful to beryllium capable to correspond Scotland present is simply a bully stepping stone,” he said. “Hopefully a mates of years of activity will put my sanction successful nan mix.”
Two different Australians completed nan podium, pinch Elijah Winnington winning metallic successful 3:45.56 a hundredth of a 2nd up of Benjamin Goedemans.
