Scottish Swimmer Archie Goodburn Faces Brain Cancer Diagnosis, Aiming to Raise Awareness and Achieve Olympic Dreams

Scottish swimmer Archie Goodburn, who once held the 50m breaststroke record, received a life-changing phone call at the edge of the pool where he had trained his whole life. The call was from an unknown number, and upon answering, he received the devastating news that he had brain cancer.

Goodburn, who turns 24 on Thursday, recalls the moment he received the news, "I spoke to my mum first to ask if she had heard anything. She said the doctors had been in touch but couldn't get anything out of them. It's a moment I'll never forget, when I sat down at the edge of the pool to find out there's a brain tumor."

The 2022 Commonwealth Games semi-finalist was told he had three 'low-grade' tumors that were inoperable, having spread through his brain. This prognosis proved to be a significant shock to the young athlete who had been in peak physical condition.

Brain cancer is the most fatal of all cancers in terms of years lost, but investigations into it represent just 1% of the national spend on cancer research since records began. Goodburn, undeterred by the challenges to come, is determined to raise awareness of brain cancer and its impact on young people.

Goodburn is not only continuing to train for this summer's World University Games but is also looking forward to the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow next year. He is aware that many others have significantly less time than him, and he hopes to use his platform to draw attention to this disease that takes so many lives.

Despite his diagnosis, Goodburn remains optimistic, "There are days when I wake up feeling positive and hoping things are going to be out there that can help. Other days, my eyes open and I remember I have brain cancer. There is an end point to my life and it's much earlier than it should be."

In addition to his swimming career, Goodburn is also focusing on raising awareness for brain cancer research and treatment. He is hoping that advancements will come soon enough to help people like himself who are facing the hard reality that they may not see their 40s.

As Goodburn offers an insight into what he, and many others, must face on a daily basis, a tear rolls down each cheek. "I see the future in different ways on different days," he explains. "There are days when I wake up feeling positive and hoping things are going to be out there that can help. Other days, my eyes open and I remember I have brain cancer. There is an end point to my life and it's much earlier than it should be."

While he campaigns for more funding and better awareness, this extraordinary young man is drawing on the support of family and friends as he pursues his career as an elite swimmer. He has a national title to defend this weekend and, despite everything, he will be the strong favorite to retain the Scottish 50m breaststroke crown, live on the BBC Sport website, app, and iPlayer. It is difficult for Goodburn to plan too far in advance, especially as he may now have to consider more aggressive forms of treatment such as radiotherapy and chemotherapy, options he has managed to postpone thus far.

"I want to keep going as long as I can and be in Glasgow for the next Commonwealth Games," he says. "I can live a pretty normal life at the moment but that's not to say that's something that's going to last and it won't be something that lasts."

Watching Goodburn train at The Pleasance, alongside his sister and fellow Commonwealth hopeful Katie, is long-time coach Mat Trodden. He cannot quite fathom how his protege is not only still training at a high level, but getting results too. Within a month of his first surgery, he won that Scottish title. And at the end of last year, he equalled his PB at the world short course. But Goodburn is not resting there. While he tackles head-on all the difficult challenges life has landed him with, he is also allowing himself to dream.

"I'm dreaming of bettering myself," he says. "A diagnosis like this takes away the belief in yourself that you can be better than you were previously. Cancer is something that we look at as a downhill, slippery slope and in some ways, it is. But I dream of being better than the last time I tried to do something. That lights a wee fire inside of me."