Swimmer With Inoperable Brain Tumor Opens Up About Emotional Journey to Commonwealth Games
Archie Goodburn finished equal last in the men’s 100m breaststroke and drew a loud ovation as he competes with terminal brain cancer.
- On Tuesday, 25-year-old Scottish swimmer Archie Goodburn finished equal-seventh in the 50m breaststroke final at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, receiving a massive ovation from the home crowd he later described as "next level."
- Diagnosed in 2024 at age 22 with three incurable low-grade brain tumors, Goodburn has continued to compete over the preceding two years, recently accessing the drug Vorasidenib to delay chemotherapy despite a prognosis limiting his life expectancy to under 40.
- Australian Sam Williamson won the race, but Goodburn's equal-seventh finish marked a significant achievement given his health challenges and 27.31sec semifinal effort on Monday morning.
- Emotional after the race, Goodburn stated his true life mission extends beyond the pool: calling on the UK Government to establish a national brain cancer lead to assist young patients, prioritizing this change over his personal goals.
- Brain cancer remains the leading cancer killer for those under 40 in the UK. Goodburn continues to use his platform to raise awareness for the disease, hoping to help future patients succeed internationally while managing his own health.
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Archie Goodburn competed in the final despite adversity.
Although suffering from brain cancer for more than two years, Scottish swimmer Archie Goodburn (25 years old) took 7th place in the final of the 50-yard-arm Commonwealth Games, held in Glasgow. He says that whatever happens, he will keep unforgettable memories of this event.
Swimmer With Inoperable Brain Tumor Opens Up About Emotional Journey to Commonwealth Games
Archie Goodburn fell short of medaling at the 2026 Commonwealth Games — but the Scottish swimmer continues to be an undeniable inspiration to many. Goodburn, 25, was diagnosed with oligodendroglioma, a rare type of brain cancer, three years ago. His condition is inoperable and doctors told him he might not live to see his 40s. The athlete has continued competing in the wake of his diagnosis, representing his country at the games and reach…
At the age of 25 he competed in Glasgow despite a diagnosis of inoperable brain cancer and finished seventh in the 50 meters chest, an achievement that led him to tears and that he used to ask for more research on the disease
How Archie Goodburn defied brain cancer to produce Glasgow's most inspiring story
Archie Goodburn's seventh-place finish in the men's 50m breaststroke final became one of the most emotional moments of the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games, just two years after he was diagnosed with inoperable and incurable brain cancer.
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