On an emotionally charged night which brought more medal success for Scotland in the pool, the nation’s biggest winner didn’t make his way to the Commonwealth Games podium.
For Archie Goodburn, simply taking part in an elite-level 50m breaststroke final alongside brilliant Australian winner Sam Williamson and English superstar Adam Ramsay-Peaty was a truly extraordinary triumph against all the odds.
Two years ago, Goodburn revealed he had been diagnosed with oligodendrogliomas, a rare and incurable form of brain cancer.
With astonishing fortitude, the 25-year-old has managed to resume a swimming career which saw him win European and world junior medals before becoming British champion in 2023.
Goodburn’s inspirational story has touched many and the crowd who greeted him with thunderous acclaim as he made his way to the starting blocks at Tollcross for the final were fully aware of it.
The Edinburgh swimmer finished tied for seventh in the race won by Williamson ahead of South Africa’s Michael Houlie with Ramsay-Peaty taking bronze.
Goodburn swam in the 50m breaststroke final two years after being diagnosed with cancer
The inspirational Scot finished tied for seventh in a race won by Australian Sam Williamson
Keanna Macinnes secures a superb silver medal by finishing second in the 100m butterfly final
Yet if Goodburn was dismayed by his time of 27.42, he knows better than anyone that sporting setbacks have to be kept firmly in perspective.
‘I’ve had a lot of tough months over the past few years,’ he said. ‘These last few months have been big in terms of moments of success.
‘Every athlete talks about tough times but there have been some really tough times. The shoes I was in, the position I was in this time last year, it was a dark spot.
‘So looking back on it 12 months later, everything I’ve managed to achieve over the year with the support of my family and friends, everyone at the University of Edinburgh, I can’t say a big enough thank you.
‘I’m disappointed with the result but I feel fortunate and very blessed to have even had the chance to take part against such a competitive field.
‘I’ll have a look at the analysis and see what caused me to be slower than I was in the semis. But that’s breaststroke at the top level. It’s really difficult to get right when the pressure is there.
‘I think I’ll look back on it as a pretty incredible moment in my life but right now I’m frustrated with my time.
‘The reaction to me from the crowd before the race was monumental. I tried to prepare myself for it in the semis this morning, which was a good tester, but that was next level tonight.
‘I can’t say thank you enough to all the Glaswegians, all the local support, friends and family as well.’
When Goodburn was asked how he maintains a positive outlook amid the devastating illness he is living with, there was a lengthy pause as he composed himself and held back tears.
‘It’s a really difficult question, because this is just a snapshot,’ he said. ‘It was a highlight with a massive crowd in front of me.
‘How do I remain positive? Sorry, I want to find an answer for this. I advocate because I believe my own advocacy can make a difference. The best way I can do that is be positive about the situation.
‘I advocate for change but I also advocate for the future Archies, I swim for the future Archies who want to achieve on international level.
‘It’s also for young patients, people with brain cancer under the age of 40. Brain cancer is the biggest killer of all cancers for people under 40 in the UK.
‘I do believe that our advocacy groups and the one I’m part of are making a difference to that which we will hopefully see over the next few years.’
Goodburn had entered the arena just after Keanna Macinnes had added to Scotland’s medal tally with a superb silver in the women’s 100m butterfly.
The 24-year-old from Edinburgh, a three-time British champion who was an Olympic semi-finalist in 2024, broke her own Scottish record as she finished second behind Alex Perkins of Australia.
Macinnes still has her favoured event, the 200m butterfly, to come on Wednesday when she hopes to make the podium again.
‘It feels incredible to get this silver,’ said Macinnes. ‘A couple of years ago, the 100 was just an add-on event for me. The 200 is definitely my strongest. Winning this medal definitely takes the pressure off me for that one now and I’m striving for more.’
Macinnes was joined in the 100m final by team-mates Ciara Schlosshan and Lucy Grieve who finished fifth and sixth respectively.
‘I think it’s the first time three Scottish girls have reached a final, so that was special,’ added MacInnes. ‘It was lovely to have that moral support and we definitely pushed each other on.’
It was an evening to cherish for 17-year-old Evi Mackie, the youngest member of Scotland’s swimming squad, who had exceeded expectations simply by reaching the final of the women’s 400m individual medley.
The Lanark youngster finished seventh as Australia’s Jenna Forrester collected her second gold of the games after winning the 200m backstroke on Friday night.
‘It was absolutely brilliant, especially with the crowd,’ said Mackie. ‘A home Games is so good. It’s my first senior meet, so to make a final is extraordinary and it’s good to gain that experience for the future.
‘It felt like a good swim. It maybe wasn’t a personal best but I felt I executed each skill pretty well and it was great to be in a Commonwealth final.
‘The whole experience has been amazing, and it’s lovely to look up to Duncan Scott and the others. We’re on first name terms now, so I think we’re best buds!’
It was a race where teenage talent showcased itself with England’s 16-year-old prodigy Amalie Smith claiming a brilliant silver.
Evie Davis claimed a creditable fifth place in the women’s 100m freestyle which, inevitably, was dominated by Australia who claimed all three medals through Meg Harris, Mollie O’Callaghan and Shayna Jack.
Stoke-born Fifer Ollie Carter delighted the crowd by making his walk to the starting blocks wearing a kilt, just as he did at Birmingham 2022, but the 100m breaststroke SB9 final proved an anti-climax for the 26-year-old who finished eighth before being disqualified.
