SEAN MCCANN secured an eighth-place finish in a swimming final at the 23rd Commonwealth Games in front of his proud family.
The 21-year-old Loughborough student finished the 400 metres freestyle competition with a respectable time of 3:53.47 in Glasgow.
The Leicester star, competing under the colours of Team Scotland, came last in the eight-man contest, 12.22 seconds behind winner Sam Short of Australia, but it was a decent display.
Short spearheaded a full podium of Aussie talent at the Tollcross International Swimming Centre.
But McCann can take with him the pride of qualifying for the prestigious final in the first place, in his first appearance at a major competition.
McMann – who wore black trunks and a white cap – qualified in eighth hours earlier, 1.07 seconds ahead of Scottish teammate Luke Hornsey, who was in heat four, in the final standings.
The long-distance swimmer – and younger brother of Madeleine McCann – was watched by parents Kate and Gerry in the stands throughout the day.
And despite the result, the family still appeared to be in good spirits as they watched from the stands.
Kate, who has been instrumental in Sean’s swimming journey, wore a white T-Shirt for the event with the words: “Yes Sir, I can boogie.”
This was a reference to the 1977 disco track by Baccara that has become a cult song for the Scottish football’s Tartan Army over the past few years.
Dad Gerry – through whose roots Sean qualifies for the host nation – wore a blue Scottish t-shirt to show his support for his boy.
McCann – who has a twin sister Amelie – was only two years old and asleep in his bed when his elder sibling Madeleine was abducted during a family holiday in Praia da Luz, Portugal, on May 3, 2007.
The disappearance of the three-year-old prompted a worldwide manhunt – which remains unresolved – and the episode has caused significant pain and heartache for the McCanns.
Over the past 13 years, McCann has channelled his efforts into competitive swimming, while studying for a chemical engineering degree at Loughborough University.
He has aspirations to qualify for Team GB at the LA Olympics, which will take place in two years’ time.
McCann – who has two years left on his degree – said after first reaching the final: “I’m buzzing.
“It wasn’t really an expectation coming in especially with how strong the field was but I’m delighted to see I made it.
“I wouldn’t say I felt the pressure but I was certainly nervous with so many people watching.
“And I wanted to do well not only for myself but Team Scotland as well. I was definitely nervous but I’m glad I produced a decent swim.
“It was amazing, I could hear them the whole way through the race. They spurred me on to really give it my all down that last 100 metres.
“I think the Olympics is always that step even further so to be able to represent Scotland here is a good stepping stone.
“Hopefully a couple of years of work will put my name in the mix.
“From a young age I really enjoyed competing. That makes all the hard hours in training worth it, coming out here in front of a crowd like this and swimming as well as I can really.”
Speaking last week to Loughborough Sport, McCann said he would be the “underdog” at this debut tournament but claimed there was no pressure on his shoulders as he appeared at the 23rd Commonwealths.
McCann has “got lots of family up in Glasgow so that makes it even more special”.
And this felt like a “full circle moment” because he had been to the 2014 Glasgow Games as a spectator.
McCann – who has also a background in open-water swimming – began competing aged eight, thanks to the help of his mum.
