British swimmer Archie Goodburn, who narrowly missed out on a place at Paris 2024, has revealed that he has been diagnosed with inoperable brain tumours. The 22-year-old, known for winning bronze in the men’s 50m breaststroke at the 2019 World Junior Swimming Championships in Hungary and representing Scotland at the Commonwealth Games, shared the heartbreaking news on his Instagram account.
Diagnosis and Symptoms
Goodburn explained that his diagnosis came after a series of strange episodes that began interrupting his training in December 2023. Initially thought to be hemiplegic migraines, these episodes manifested as a loss of strength, numbness on his left side, deep fear, nausea, and extreme deja vu, which he later learned were seizures. Despite these challenges, Goodburn pushed through to compete in the 2024 Olympic trials, where he narrowly missed the Olympic team by just a few tenths of a second, finishing third in an event with only two spots.
The Diagnosis
An MRI in May revealed that Goodburn had three large oligodendrogliomas, a rare form of diffuse and progressive brain cancer that cannot be operated on. Despite the devastating news, Goodburn remains hopeful as oligodendrogliomas generally respond better to radiotherapy and chemotherapy than many other serious brain tumour types.
Goodburn’s Statement
In his Instagram post, Goodburn shared his journey and determination:
“Six weeks ago, my life experienced a profound change as I was diagnosed with three brain tumours. In December 2023, my training began to be interrupted by strange episodes. These episodes, initially thought to be hemiplegic migraines, would occur during hard training. They would leave me with a loss of strength and a numb sensation on my left side, a deep feeling of fear, nausea and extreme deja vu. I now know that these were in fact seizures. The seizures grew in intensity and frequency in the lead-up to the 2024 Olympic trials in April, something I’d aimed for and trained for almost my entire life. I was determined on achieving my dreams, so I continued to train on through the seizures. I narrowly missed the Olympic team by just a few tenths of a second, placing third in an event with only two spots. With the trials behind me, I dug deeper into what was really causing these attacks. An MRI in May finally revealed what I’d begun to fear the most.”
Future Treatment
While surgery is not an option, Goodburn will undergo chemotherapy and radiotherapy in the hopes of effectively managing the tumours. He remains optimistic about the treatment’s potential, given the nature of oligodendrogliomas.
Support and Well-Wishes
Goodburn’s announcement has drawn an outpouring of support from the swimming community and beyond. His determination and resilience continue to inspire many, as he faces this challenging chapter with courage.
