Archie Goodburn accomplished his goal of making the 50m breaststroke final at the Commonwealth Games, but the Scottish swimmer has a much more important dream outside the pool.
Goodburn, 25, was diagnosed with an incurable form of brain cancer in 2024.
“I dream of a future where brain cancer isn’t the biggest killer of those under 40, where the UK government establish a national brain cancer lead to make that change,” he said at the Games in Glasgow. “I much prefer that change is made and that dream is completed than any of my personal goals in the pool because what families and young people are going through out there is really beyond the comprehension of many people out there and certainly far harder than anything I’ve had to do as a world-class sportsman.”
Goodburn placed seventh in the 50m breaststroke at the Commonwealth Games, and third among British swimmers.
In April 2024, Goodburn placed third in the 100m breast at the British Championships after training through a loss of strength and numb sensations on his left side, which he learned were seizures. He missed the Paris Olympic team by one spot and 54 hundredths of a second shy of an Olympic qualifying time.
A month later, Goodburn was diagnosed with three brain tumors, sharing his story on his Instagram.
“I advocate to try and extend my own life and try and make a difference to my own life,” he told the BBC, “but also for the other young patients and adults going through what I’m going through.”
