6 days ago
Madeleine McCann's brother could represent Team GB at next Olympic games
Madeleine McCann's brother could be representing Great Britain at the next Olympics.
The toddler disappeared from her Portuguese hotel room in 2007, while she was on holiday with her family and their friends. Despite an 18-year search that cost millions of pounds, there has been no sign of Madeleine, who would be 22 now.
A new search for Madeleine has commenced near Praia da Luz where she was on holiday, with it emerging that her younger brother Sean, who's now 20, becoming a promising swimmer. Madeleine McCann's brother could be representing Great Britain at the next Olympics. Pic: PA Wire
The young man, who is studying chemical engineering, has been swimming competitively since he was eight years old, with the Daily Mail reporting that he was up at 4am multiple times a week to train as well as going to the gym several times a week.
Sean has represented Scotland at the Youth Commonwealth games in 2023, where he participated in the 400m and 1,500m freestyle, and plans to represent Scotland at the Commonwealth Games in 2026 due to his father's Scottish roots as well as repping Team GB in LA 2028.
Sean spoke about his swimming ambitions on the Joe Humphries Memorial Trust, which was set up in memory of 14 year old Joe Humphries, who died suddenly while jogging in 2012. Sean McCann has represented Scotland at the Commonwealth Youth Games in 2023, and hopes to represent Team GB at the 2028 Olympics. Pic: Joe Humphries Memorial Trust
'I started competitive sport when I was 8, joining Charnwood triathlon club. It was here that I discovered my passion for swimming and I joined Loughborough Town swimming club to increase the number of swim sessions I did per week,' he wrote on the charity's website.
'At the age of 10 I was selected to swim at City of Leicester (Leicestershire's performance swimming club), and I have since go on to win multiple county titles as well as becoming regional and National champion in my age group. In order to have achieved this, I have had to remain extremely dedicated, getting up at 4am multiple mornings each week to train, since the age of 11.
'I am currently studying chemical engineering at Loughborough university, and train 9 times a week in the pool, as well as 3 gym sessions, totalling over 20 hours of training week. I am aiming to compete at the 2026 Commonwealth Games and also the 2028 olympics in LA.' A new search has begun near where she disappeared from. Pic: Patricia de Melo Moreira/AFP via Getty Images
Madeleine's parents have since released a statement on the 18th anniversary of her disappearance last month, thanking people for their unwavering support in the near two decades since her disappearance.
'As we arrive at the 18th anniversary of Madeleine's abduction, we'd like to thank our faithful supporters once again for standing by us and never forgetting about Madeleine,' the family wrote. 'The years appear to be passing even more quickly and whilst we have no significant news to share, our determination to 'leave no stone unturned' is unwavering.
'We will do our utmost to achieve this.'
'May is also the month which includes 'International Missing Children's Day' (25th),' the statement continued. 'We continue to remember all missing children and their families, both here in the UK and abroad, thinking especially of all the children displaced from their homes & families in Ukraine & Gaza at this time.
'We're very grateful to the UK Charity, 'Missing People' for their ongoing, invaluable work, & to all organisations, charities and police forces who remain committed, despite many challenges and limited resources, to finding & bringing home the many missing and abducted children.
'May is also Madeleine's birthday – her 22nd this year. No matter how near or far she is, she continues to be right here with us, every day, but especially on her special day. We continue to celebrate her as the very beautiful and unique person she is. We miss her.'
