Sean McCann, the younger brother of missing Madeleine McCann, finished ninth in the men's 800m freestyle at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. The 21-year-old swimmer, who qualified for the final of the 400m freestyle earlier in the week, competed in the longer distance event on Tuesday, with his parents Kate and Gerry McCann in attendance.
McCann was seeded in the fastest heat alongside top competitors Sam Short of Australia and Daniel Wiffen of Ireland. He finished in last place in his eight-strong heat with a time of 8:11.34, nearly 32 seconds behind gold medalist Sam Short. Overall, McCann placed ninth among 14 athletes in the event.
Sean McCann is eligible to represent Scotland through his father, who was born in Glasgow. His dedication to swimming has been noted by those close to him. A former coach told the Daily Mail that McCann is "really driven and never one to take the easiest route," highlighting his commitment with early morning training sessions and gym workouts.
McCann has been training extensively, attending up to nine two-hour sessions weekly, often starting with 4 a.m. workouts. He is studying chemical engineering at Loughborough University, which he chose for its sports facilities. Despite the demanding nature of distance swimming, his progression has been described as steady and determined. He competed in the 2023 Commonwealth Youth Games, reaching the finals of the 400m and 1,500m freestyle, and has qualified for the European Open Water Championships representing Great Britain.
The McCann siblings, Sean and his twin sister Amelie, have grown up under the intense media scrutiny surrounding their older sister Madeleine's disappearance from a holiday villa in Portugal in 2007. Madeleine was abducted when Sean was two years old. Their parents, Kate and Gerry McCann, have spoken about their efforts to ensure their children had as normal a childhood as possible, despite the ongoing media attention and their own anxieties.
McCann has stated he is excited about representing Scotland at the Commonwealth Games, describing it as a "pinnacle" moment. He noted that having family in Glasgow makes the event even more special, recalling watching the Games there as a child in 2014. He aims to represent Team GB at the Olympic Games in Los Angeles.
