That’s the reality for Loughborough University and Team Scotland swimmer, Sean McCann, as he’s set to make his first senior appearance for Scotland at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow this month.
The 21-year-old long-distance specialist has enjoyed a meteoric rise in recent years and is now looking ahead to what is sure to be a fruitful summer.
“I’m very excited, it’s my first senior games so I’m just looking forward to representing Scotland and doing my absolute best,” he told Loughborough Sport.
“It’s the pinnacle really of representing Scotland at the Commonwealth Games, especially at a home Games.
“I’ve got lots of family up in Glasgow so that makes it even more special. I was there in 2014 [at the Commonwealth Games], watching as a kid, so to make it now, twelve years later, is really a full circle moment.”
Speaking about his journey at Loughborough University, McCann explained how a new environment – both sporting and academic – helped him flourish.
“At my home club I didn’t really have anyone doing the same events as me, which meant in training you were always working by yourself.
“But here, there’s always been people who are better than me, similar to me, so we push each other all the time, and we’re all striving towards the same sort of things. You can never really slack off with the quality of athletes around you.
“You’ve got to have a strong mentality in distance swimming; I always tend to go out quite slow and build my way into a race – that’s how I like to pace it.
“I’m going in as more of an underdog; I don’t feel like there’s any pressure on me. I should be able to go in and perform at my best.”
McCann also spoke about what drew him to Loughborough as he balances sporting and educational priorities.
“I study Chemical Engineering; I spoke to coaches in Britain, and they said ‘if you want to pursue distance swimming, this is where to go’. Alongside that, it was number one for the degree as well, which made it the obvious choice in the end.
“There’s so much talent just around the campus. Wherever you go, you always see athletes around. The pool’s amazing, the gym’s amazing – it’s the place to be, and I really love training here.”
For all the latest Loughborough news around the Commonwealth Games, visit the dedicated website here: www.lboro.ac.uk/sport/commonwealth-games-2026/
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