Sean McCann, swimmer

[TheAverageJoanne]

I noticed the swimmer Sean McCann is being described in every news story as Madeleine McCann's brother. AIBU to think this is unfair to the guy who's trained, qualified and got into the final? It feels very unfair.

I thought the same. Poor guy will have this for the rest of his life I imagine.

None of us in the swimming world refer to him as this. He is Sean, he’s a good swimmer and a nice person.

It’s dire.
The media just can’t behave.

Aargh! Hit YABU by mistake sorry. Completely agree with you.

I thought the same, it’s so ghoulish. He’s representing his country and has achieved fantastic things.

This. I’ve known he’s a swimmer for years, he’s just known as Sean. Now the press has got hold of it, I knew it would go crazy!

We just said exactly the same. He is Sean, he’s worked damned hard to get to this level and deserves recognition in his own right.

@Glittertwins That's good to hear but it is likely to be tough for him to read the way his achievements are being reported.

I hope this has been anticipated and that he is prepared for the attention which won't be about his swimming achievements.

I suppose he and his sister have had this all their lives.

I agree. He seems like a lovely young man and clearly very talented. It was however a joy to see a photo of the Mcanns smiling. ♥️

It must be strange as they’ve probably had this all their lives yet won’t remember madeleine at all

DH and I said the same.

I wish the press would just fuck off and leave him alone. He doesn’t need this noise at all. Good luck to him.

The ‘jokes’ about him being a swimmer on social media are disgusting. I think people writing them and sharing should be prosecuted for something. Not sure what but it’s not okay

Agree, it doesn’t need to be in the news.

I agree I thought the same thing. Sean Mc Cann swimmer is enough.

I don't know what these " jokes" are and I don't want to. Unbelievable how sick some people are.

My son was visiting this weekend so I was coerced into watching some of the Comminwealth games coverage on Alba. So that's how I heard about Sean. And we were discussing how absolutely appalling it was that it was all about his family connection rather than about his ability and achievement as a swimmer. And how difficult it must have been for him and his sister growing up with the family tragedy .

All I can say is good luck to him and wish him every success and happiness.

Especially poor of the media considering the lengths the parents have had to go to protect their children. It wasn’t that long ago the crazy polish woman was bombarding the kids with calls and messages.

I suppose if he gets to be Olympic-level or something and really well-known it will be dropped in time. We don't now constantly refer to "Andy Murray, who was in Dunblane School during the massacre".

Good

I feel so sorry for him

Going to make a wild assumption that 100% of people probably don't know the other finalists
Therefore the only thing that makes it interesting is that he is who he is

Do we need to know the personal history of the others though? Bizarre post.

What an achievement to make the final of the commonwealth games and yet he is referred to as Madeleine’s brother. He has another couple of swims to go too. I wish him lots of luck.

It’s interesting because of the swimming. Before the race, I was familiar with Sam Short, Elijah Winnington, Dan Wiffen and James Guy, and I don’t follow swimming particularly closely. Lots of swimming fans will have known who a number of the finalists are.

Yes - I thought the same, give the kid a break. Let him enjoy his achievement. He will always be her brother and remember her - but let him move forward in his own life,