Get ready for a taste of Scottish pride as Sean McCann, younger brother of Madeleine McCann, dives into his major championship debut at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow this Saturday. The 21-year-old Loughborough University student is set to make waves in the 400m, 800m, and 1500m freestyle events, with the 400m heats firing up the action on Saturday morning at Tollcross Swimming Centre.
McCann's excitement is palpable as he prepares to represent Scotland at its own Games – a chance he describes as "the pinnacle" of Scottish sporting pride. With family ties firmly rooted in Glasgow, this is a "full-circle moment" for McCann, who fondly remembers watching the 2014 Commonwealth Games with his loved ones. Although born and raised in England, McCann's qualification to compete for Scotland comes courtesy of his father Gerry.
The young athlete has taken a steady stride towards success, securing third place in the 800m freestyle and fourth in the 1500m at this year's British Championships. His impressive resume also includes stints at the 2024 Olympic trials, where he represented Team GB, as well as the 2023 Commonwealth Youth Games in Trinidad and Tobago – where he finished fifth in the 400m freestyle and seventh in the 1,500m freestyle. Not forgetting his Great Britain outing at the 2025 European Open Water Championships in Croatia.
With a demanding chemical engineering degree to juggle alongside his competitive swimming career, McCann has been an integral part of the Scottish Swimming programme since his teenage years. He takes on the Glasgow Games with a level head, viewing himself as the underdog – and the freedom from pressure allows him to focus solely on delivering his best.
Sean and Madeleine's twin sister were just two years old when their big sister disappeared during a family holiday in Praia Da Luz, Portugal, in 2007. This heart-wrenching case remains an ongoing inquiry by the Metropolitan Police – one that continues to captivate the world's attention.