The parents of Madeleine McCann were in the crowd to watch her younger brother, Sean, compete at the Commonwealth Games. Sean, who was just two years old when Madeleine went missing on a family holiday in Praia da Luz, Portugal in 2007, is representing Scotland in the men’s swimming.

Now aged 21, he finished fourth in his 400-metre freestyle heat on Saturday morning to book his place in the final and keep himself in contention for a medal. His parents, Kate and Gerry, were spotted cheering him on from the stands. Sean’s twin sister, Amelie, was also in attendance to watch her brother in action.

Kate was wearing a T-shirt with the slogan: “Yes sir, I can boogie,” a reference to the 1977 hit by Baccara, which has become an anthem for supporters of the Scotland national football team.

Both parents were spotted clapping and cheering as their son squeezed through to the gold medal race as the eighth and final qualifier.

Sean faced a short wait to discover his fate, with his time of 3:52.65 eventually proving enough to secure his place into the final.

Afterwards, he said: “I’m buzzing. It wasn’t really an expectation coming in, especially with how strong the field was, but I’m delighted to see I made it.

“I wouldn’t say I felt the pressure but I was certainly nervous with so many people watching and I wanted to do well not only for myself but Team Scotland as well. I was definitely nervous but I’m glad I produced a decent swim.

“It [the crowd] was amazing, I could hear them the whole way through the race. They spurred me on to really give it my all down that last 100 metres.”

Sean will also compete in the men’s 800-metre and 1,500-metre freestyle events later in the Commonwealth Games.

He grew up in England but qualifies to represent Scotland through Gerry, who was born and raised in Glasgow, where he met Kate.

Sean balances his swimming career with his studies at Loughborough University, where he is striving to gain a degree in chemical engineering.

Before the Games, he said: “I’m very excited. It’s my first senior Games so I’m just looking forward to representing Scotland and doing my absolute best.

“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, 12 years later, is really a full-circle moment.

“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.”

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