Dale, who was forced to walk on crutches for a period of last month, finished in sixth place in his 400m individual medley heat in a time of 4 mins 18.60 seconds.

However, his brave effort was not enough to make the final.

The men's 400m individual medley was the first swimming event in the 2008 Olympics on Saturday but Dale failed to get out of heat three, which was won by USA's Ryan Lochte, who claimed the bronze medal in the final.

Mother Trish Dale watched her son's performance at home, while husband Ronnie was poolside in Beijing.

She said: "He picked up a virus in Rome in June and it took three weeks off his training. He then had tests with British Swimming because they thought it could be something more serious such as Chron's Disease.

"He was walking around in crutches for a while as he had painful joints.

"He got his last test result three days before he was set to leave so it really was that close. Thankfully he got the all clear and he seemed upbeat after his swim and thought it could have gone a lot worse.

"I think he is just saviouring the Olympic experience and is enjoying the positive feeling in the British camp."

Twenty two year old Dale is a former member of Duns Swimming Club, and former coach Joyce Waddell was proud of his brave performance.

Joyce said: "He did so well and it was a big decision for him even to compete.
"Euan had diarrhoea and for a while they thought it could be Chron's disease but he was given the all clear after tests.

"However, he had to walk around using crutches and it was touch and go whether he would travel so for him to even compete was fantastic."

The Loughborough University student, whose girlfriend Julia Beckett is competing for Great Britain in the 4x100m relay, had said this could be his last appearance in a major swimming competition but Joyce, who coached him from the age of 6 to 12 years of age, hopes he will continue.

"There was a rumour he may pack it in - but I hope he may continue now as he could have done even better without the virus.

"He is a lovely lad and has never changed in all the time I have known him."

Trish added: "He has the last year of his accountancy and finance degree last year so I expect he will taper down his training.

"Whether he will continue for four years until London 2012 I don't know - that is a long time.

"Before he said he was only ever aiming to compete at the Olympics. It is a huge commitment, especially considering he has been competing since the age of 6."

Duns Amateur Swimming Club postponed their training so members could watch Dale be one of the first British swimmers to take to the Olympic stage.

And most agreed that Dale had produced a fantastic swim in difficult conditions.

USA's Michael Phelps, who is aiming to claim an amazing eight golds across the week in the pool at Beijing's National Aquatic Centre, won the 400m IM final in a world record time of 4 mins 03.84 seconds.

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