DUNCAN Scott finds himself submerged by memories as he re-visits the site of his first big splash on the international stage.
Now 20, with a total haul of five World and Olympic medals in his collection, an entire Commonwealth Games cycle has almost passed since this lanky, unassuming teenager was claiming his first senior medal, a silver for Scotland, in the 4x200m at Glasgow 2014 at the Tollcross International Swimming Centre.
Yet he still seems just about fresh-faced enough to be mistaken for one of the lucky children here yesterday to celebrate Glasgow Sport’s Learn to Swim programme, rather than the day’s star turn who will be one of Team Scotland’s mainstays on the Gold Coast.
“I don’t look any older!” said Scott. “The only thing I’ve lost is my 30 spots around my face! But I’ve changed a lot. I know a lot more about all the events. I’m a lot more experienced than I was at Glasgow 2014.
“I have competed a lot more on the international scene. And, you know, physically I am more mature. Hopefully a lot of these things taken together will make the difference. But it is a completely different environment – I have never competed outside or competed in Australia so that will be a different step as well.”
Scotland’s swimmers struggle for exposure at parts of the year, but Scott is finding the media requirements are different too. Then, a 16-year-old boy in his final year at Strathallan High School, even on his big moment alongside Dan Wallace, Stephen Milne and Robbie Renwick he was capable of waltzing through the mixed zone with nobody batting an eye.
“We came back, did the media, and no-one asked me any questions, so I just walked straight through,” says Scott. “Robbie did it all!”
No need for anyone to bring him down a peg, then, when he returned to school once the games were over – even if a silver bike rack in his honour still exists at the school to this day. “Your mates just stay the same regardless,” he said.
“If I swim awful, they still have the same friendship with me. If I swim incredibly well, they still have the same friendship with me. If anything, the more I achieve the more they rip into me!”
One reason Scott is likely to be ubiquitous when it comes to this Commonwealth Games is quite simply the sheer volume of his events.
While he still regards himself as a novice when it comes to competing in the individual events – a fourth place in the 100m individual medley at the Rio Olympics is a fairly decent hint at his potential – Scott could compete in an even half dozen disciplines in Australia.
In addition to the 100m and 200m freestyle and the 200m individual medley, he is likely to contribute to the 4x200m and 4x100m freestyle and the 4x100m medley, and as much pressure as he will put on himself to add to his medal collection out there, his first priority is making sure he books his spot on the GB team for the European Championships, back In Glasgow in August.
Regularly in British teams alongside big hitters like Adam Peaty, Scott is unfazed when it comes to the limelight when it shines in his direction.
“Being in front of the media doesn’t really bother me, if I have to I have to, if I don’t then I don’t,” says Scott.
“There are people who aren’t at the forefront of a team who are at the forefront in the media.”
In preparation for this Gold Coast variety show, Scott and his coach Steven Tigg have come up with a novel approach to next week’s Edinburgh International Swim Meet, which incorporates the British Swimming Championships.
“I am trying out a couple of new events just to have a last little bit of ‘fun’ before we go out to Australia,” he said.
“Because of what I am racing out in the Commonwealth Games I am going to do the four 100ms [breaststroke, backstroke, butterfly and freestyle]. Does that mean I’ll be racing Ross Murdoch in the breastroke? Well, I don’t know if I will make the final!”
If their performances on a swimming simulator set to beat Scott’s 100m record were to be believed, there was plenty of raw talent in Tollcross yesterday.
“They were all doing 105m in that time, not 100m, so I was saying this isn’t supposed to happen! I should have challenged them to a race and seen if they were still up for it.”
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