Almost two decades after his sister Madeleine disappeared, Sean McCann has reached the final of the men’s 400m freestyle at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.

The 21-year-old swimmer, who represents Scotland, qualified for the final after finishing fourth in his morning heat at the Tollcross International Swimming Centre. His parents, Kate and Gerry McCann, and his twin sister Amelie were in the stands to support him.

Sean went on to finish eighth in the final, recording a time of 3:53.47. Australia’s Sam Short won gold in 3:41.25, followed by Elijah Winnington and Benjamin Goedemans.

Despite missing out on a medal, reaching the final was a significant achievement for Sean, who was making his Commonwealth Games debut. He later said he was delighted to have reached the final and credited the crowd for encouraging him throughout the race.

Sean grew up in England but is eligible to compete for Scotland through his father, Gerry, who was born in Glasgow. He previously represented Scotland at the 2023 Commonwealth Youth Games and has continued to develop as a distance freestyle swimmer while studying at Loughborough University.

His appearance in Glasgow also brought a deeply personal moment for the McCann family. Sean and Amelie were only two years old when their older sister Madeleine, then three, disappeared during a family holiday in Praia da Luz, Portugal, in May 2007.

Kate and Gerry have continued to support their children over the years, and both were visibly proud as they watched Sean compete on the Commonwealth stage.

Sean is expected to continue competing in the 2026 Commonwealth Games, with the 800m and 1,500m freestyle among the events on his schedule.

For the McCann family, his appearance in Glasgow represented more than a sporting milestone. It was also a moment of pride as Sean built his own career on one of the biggest stages in international swimming.

Sources: The Guardian, Sky News