DUNCAN SCOTT doesn’t want for motivation. The hunks of metal dangling around his neck attest to that.
With eight medals now relocated to Alloa – including two from his stunning campaign in Paris this summer - the swimmer never drags his feet on the way to the pool or wonders if he would have been better sticking with maths.
He’s pushed forward by his coaches at the University of Stirling, and his passion for inspiring the next generation, which brought him to The Peak leisure centre on Wednesday to dole out some expert advice to budding butterfliers on behalf of the ChangeMakers initiative.
After a Covid-hit 2020 Games in Tokyo, the 30,000-strong crowds at La Defense Arena helped as well – even if they weren’t necessarily cheering for him.
“The atmosphere at the swimming was electric,” says Scott. “It was probably one of the best atmospheres I’ve raced in front of - and with good reason given the French guy was doing all right!”
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Duncan Scott: I can't touch Sir Chris Hoy's achievements
Duncan Scott wins silver in 200m IM behind world-class Leon Marchand
Ah, the French guy. For when all's said and done, sometimes the best motivation is the guy in the lane beside you. Leon Marchand has proven a worthy nemesis.
A smile whips across Scott’s face discussing the Toulouse native, with game recognising game when it comes to the 22-year-old who lit up Paris, plundering four gold medals in the pool, including in the 200m medley as Scott settled for second. Scott has seen off some formidable foes in the past, but is he the best of the bunch?
“It’s difficult because I go into every race believing I’ve got an opportunity to win, no matter who I’m against,” says Scott. “I think that’s the beauty of sport, anything can happen.
“But as much as that, I’ve got to respect him and put my hands up. He was 0.06 [seconds] off the world record in the 200m IM at the end of what was an unbelievable week of swimming for him.
“He’s definitely up there for one of the best athletes I’ve competed against but at the same time I’m going to have to compete against him for a wee while longer so I need to go back to the drawing board about where does he take the most away from me? At what point is he a lot better than me? And I need to go back and work on that and see how much I can close the gap. If I can close it a little bit then I guess you never know.”
You wouldn’t bet against Scott working out the winning formula again. After adding gold in the freestyle relay and silver in the 200m medley to his tally in Paris, the 27-year-old has overtaken Sir Chris Hoy as Scotland’s most decorated Olympian.
“He sent me a lovely message and I got back to him,” he says when asked if the legendary cyclist had been in touch. “He’s always really supportive of whatever I’m doing. As I’ve said many times before, he’s someone that inspired me a lot when I was growing up, watching him compete and dominate on the world and Olympic stage.
“He always showed up when it mattered and it’s a real honour to be put in the same sentences as him.”
With Sir Jason Kenny one ahead of the Scottish pair on nine medals, what better place than Hollywood to steal the spotlight altogether and cement his place in history as Britain’s greatest?
“I’ve probably got to look at what’s going to get me there rather than the outcome,” he says. “I think when you start focusing on the outcome then mentally it can be quite difficult to get there.
“I’m swimming almost better than I’ve ever swam. It was 11 races across eight days - I swam for eight of the nine days - and I think the quality I showed throughout it was one of the best.
“Given the emotional and physical fatigue of an Olympic Games, you go in with questions. Am I still at that level, can I still compete at that level and maintain it?
“I finished the week and felt it was a great week of swimming for me, being able to anchor some great relays and individually swim pretty well as well. I’m really happy with the way it’s gone but there is still plenty more in the sport that I want to try and achieve.
“I think I’ll probably get back in the pool next week but that’s only because I’m looking ahead to doing the World Cups in October-November time. But some athletes might take a month off or more. It’s about what am I going to do now that’s best going to prepare me for four years’ time.”
- Duncan is part of an athlete ChangeMaker initiative, a partnership between The National Lottery’s operator, Allwyn, Team GB, ParalympicsGB and UK Sport to support athletes who want to help social impact projects they are passionate about - whether it’s grassroots sport projects, sustainability, mental and physical wellbeing or LGBTQIA+ inclusion. Across the next few weeks over 100 athletes from Team GB, ParalympicsGB and from The National Lottery funded world class performance programme are going out into their communities to get involved with these good cause projects. This is being made possible by the new operator of The National Lottery, Allwyn, which has pledged to make a difference through its annual £1m Social Value Fund.
