Little over two years ago, Archie Goodburn's world fell apart. The Scottish 50m breaststroke record holder was dreaming of the Paris Olympics when he received devastating news: at 22, he had brain cancer. Further investigation revealed three inoperable, low-grade tumours spread through his brain, with doctors warning he might not see his 40s.

Now 25, Goodburn walked out to a thunderous ovation at Tollcross for the Commonwealth Games 50m breaststroke final. After qualifying fifth fastest with a national record of 27.12 seconds, he finished joint seventh. "Last night, I was so overcome to have achieved that primary goal of making the final," he told BBC Sport Scotland. New treatments have slowed tumour growth, and he recently graduated from Edinburgh University with a first in chemical engineering.

Team-mate Duncan Scott called Goodburn "inspirational." Beyond swimming, Goodburn advocates passionately for brain cancer research funding. "One of my other dreams is that we see a future where brain cancer isn't the biggest killer of patients under 40," he said. His girlfriend Ciara Schlosshan competed for Scotland minutes before him.

Goodburn reflects on his dual role as athlete and patient advocate: "It's kind of turned into a bit of both. I know that I'm going to have memories to last a lifetime."