At just 20 years of age, Scottish swimmer Duncan Scott already has an impressive resume, one that includes two Olympic silver medals from Rio. In addition to landing on the podium with teammates in the men’s 4x200m freestyle and 4x100m medley relays at the 2016 Olympic Games, Scott surprised a stacked field to make it into the men’s 100m freestyle final, ultimately finishing 5th overall.
Since then, Scott has been busy at the University of Stirling, grinding out the training and pushing himself to the limits in the hopes of capturing his first major international medal in an individual event. If the British Swimming Championships this past April were any indication, Scott is primed to break out in a big way once Budapest begins on July 23rd.
In Sheffield this past April, Scott collected 5 individual medals, including a trio of bronze finishes across the 200m fly, 100 fly and 200 IM. A hard-fought silver medal came in the form of his 200m freestyle battle with reigning world champion and fellow British teammate James Guy. An intense duel ultimately came down to the touch, with Guy winning gold in 1:45.55 to Scott’s 1:45.80. For the Stirling standout, the time hacked over a second and half off of his previous best and puts him in the conversation for a minor medal in the event in Budapest.
Scott also has a strong potential claim in the men’s 100m freestyle event by becoming Britain’s first-ever man under the 48 second mark. In Sheffield’s final, Scott blew away the field and notched a personal best and new British record of 47.90, a result that still stands as the number one time in the world heading into these World Championships. Just 19 at the time (Scott’s birthday was May 6th), Scott represented one of just a few teenagers in history to have gone sub-48, categorizing him with the likes of Olympic champion Kyle Chalmers and the fastest 100m freestyler ever in a textile suit, Cameron McEvoy.
Reflecting on his British Championships performances, as well as what’s ahead now just days away in Hungary, Scott says, “I swam really well at the British Championships and I was pleased with the times considering what stage of the season it was.
“I would like to move that forward now though and put in a good showing in the individual events in Budapest as well the relays. Looking at the age of the members in the team, we are looking strong across these events for years to come. The whole British team is in a great place at the minute and it’s great to be a part of that, there’s a really positive atmosphere.”
“I don’t tend to think about my Olympic medals too much, they are obviously a great achievement and something I am proud of but I don’t feel pressure because of them. My job is to look forward at the next challenge and I’m excited about Budapest.
“I’m looking to see how all of the work my coach and I have undertaken is paying off. It will be interesting to see where this puts me in my individual events.”
Quotes courtesy of British Swimming.
He was afforded an abundance of clean water in the 100 that simply won’t be there in Budapest. It’s the same reason McEvoy couldn’t repeat his performance. His smaller build doesn’t help either. That certainly doesn’t mean he’s not a contender for gold but I would not consider him the favorite (if there even is a favorite. I’d personally pick Adrian as Scott, McEvoy, and Dressel are all still wild cards internationally). 200 he has a chance to medal but I wouldn’t count on it. In Budapest I think he wins silver in the 100 behind Adrian.
I’d agree on 1 individual medal being a great return, both events are incredibly stacked.
I want to send him to Mel (Marshall) to sort that breaststroke out – 47s free, 52s fly, 55s back (untapered)… Could be a pretty tasty IMer one day.
Maybe … if and when he’s collected an Olympic gold medal in one of his peak events and was then looking for new challenges. If his current regime is currently paying dividends as regards intl results … don’t change until there is clear reason to (things are going wrong OR he’s won that Olympic gold).
I don’t have him as a gold favourite but esp in the 100, he’s very much a contender. I have him as the main intl challenger to the Americans. Like too many Australians this year, McEvoy’s performances have been erratic to say the least and don’t exactly inspire confidence that he’s put Rio behind him
Ok, this clear water argument is stupid. In a sprint you can get caught in someones else’s wake, but you need to be more than a bodylength behind to do that. Plus their is drafting (lezak’s anchor in 2008 is the best example of this). Clear water is good, but smaller swimmers can stilk go fast without it. Morozov is a great example of this.
I’m betting on him to win 100 freestyle.
Who would be on britain 4×100 free?
Proud Scott guy and someone else? Doesn’t seem like a bad team
Just for the record.. on the Prelims List on Fina Site GBR is not listed on 4×100 free..
Hahah good to know… thought that would be a solid team- guess they were missing that 4th guy
And Proud seem to have focused so much on 50 free his 100 was horrible at GBR Trials..
Scott is 47,90, Barret was 48,94, Jack 49,47, Proud was 50,3 only.. So if Guy could swim a 48 mid, GBR would still sum to 3:14 high 3:15 flat..
Calum Jarvis on the team, his PB from 2015 is 48.7… But, Scott aside none of them are remotely world class sprinters and the men’s 4x100fr did not deserve a ticket.
This British 4×100 had so much potential (Proud had the same drop than in the 50’s) … shocked to see that they won’t be there, they could have battled for a medal.
Same thing for France, yes lots of their best weapons are left but they could have medalled with a strong basis Metella-Stravius and some others who would have dropped time from their trials (Mignon, Bourelly…). Even without dropping time (so with Mignon and Bourelly or Pelagie in 49s) they could have medalled with this very weak field (Metella and most of all Stravius being great relay guys).
You speak of this elusive potential but unless you have at least 4 swimmers swimming quick enough then there is no way GBR is going to send them. At the moment, they only have 2; Proud CAN swim those times but hasn’t been doing so. Maybe in what is likely to be a depleted field (qualitywise), they MAY have been able to make the final in Budapest (operative word is “may”), I think its highly optimistic to talk of medals unless the likes of RUS, BRA, ITA or even AUS were DQd for “breaking”
GBR did NOT send a M4X100 to Rio even though they actually did directly qualify (top 12 at Kazan), but since they didnt make that final.… Read more »
Peaty swimming breaststroke cause he’s just that good.
Who else here thinks Britain is being insanely hyped like they were in 2015. People saying CWH would be a 52
Not really, GBR actually has to be applauded for their approach. Their selection standards are tough but they don’t fall into the trap (like AUS) of trying to select the biggest team possible or uncompetitive relays; but rather those who should, at minimum, be finalists. Not all their medal hopes will get up but their medal strike rate will most likely be a satisfactory one.
CWH did go 52. at 2015 worlds, leading off the relay. I wouldn’t say Britain have been insanely hyped though – not one Brit has been predicted to medal who isn’t essentially a lock (Peaty & SMOC).
I’d also say, 8 medals in 2015, 4 of them gold, after just 1 bronze in 2013… No amount of insane hype would be insane enough to demonstrate what a profound turn around that was. Britain isn’t America, we have no tangible swimming history, you have to take it relatively. In that context, it wasn’t hype, it was entirely warranted.
It’s not like USA sent their a team to Kazan, just look at Rio
I wasn’t talking about USA? We all know USA are extremely dominant in swimming, you could just sit back and let other nations enjoy their relative success, couldn’t you? Nobody is making out Britain are challenging the top nations. But, we are improving, and Scott is world ranked number 1 over 100free – What hype are you talking about?
Think you’re missing context – This is a nation that would ordinarily pick up 1 or 2 minor medals at meets, often none. So, people are looking across and seeing a huge improvement and acknowledging that.
Since the end of the Cold War, the reality has been that USA has never had any realistic challenger to their dominance of the sport. From time to time, one country or another has had maybe 1-2 Olympic cycles where one side of their program has been able to mount some degree of challenge to their US equivalent but that has been the extent of it.
What we have now is USA several levels above the rest then its a case of deciding the relative positions of the Second Division nations. As it stands, GBR IS probably one of those legitimately jockeying for the top spot or the rung just below. I would expect JAP to potentially contend strongly over… Read more »
CW, let’s see the past Europeans, Junior Europeans and HUN. Never down, but definitely up 🙂 We always had, have and will have (Kapas,Kesely,Gyurinovics, Kovacs,Ilyes, 2Juhasz, Szilagyi,Novoszath, Szabo-Feltothy, Horvath,Vecsey, Kenderesi, Lobanovszkij, Holoda,Nemeth,Milak, Lakatos,Kalmar, Rasovszky, Biczo etc., etc. etc.) girls and boys who can deliver medals. It’s not a one-man team.
You weren’t but the reason Britain won that many medals was because USA didn’t have their a team
USA were there. They lost. That’s the case.
GBR did very well in 2015 and Rio. The attention was deserved
2015 yeah, Rio not so much at least on the men’s side. Peaty is the only thing giving their medley a chance
However Budapest goes for Duncan, one thing is beyond doubt in my mind, he has more potential than any other 100/200 freestyle around today. I’d say, due to his current build, “the skinniest sprinter ever” according to Swinswams very own Loretta Race, his 100 has more scope than his 200. But, both have a mountain of improvement left to unearth.
If anyone is going to challenge the American duo in the 100, it will be Scott. The 200 … harder to pick. Also likely medals in 4X200 & 4XMED. Am tending to agree with Dee re his trajectory
I don’t know about that. Agnel was a twig when he went 1:43 and 47.8 in London. Probably about 15 kilograms heavier than Scott but much taller. He seemed to put on some muscle and could never repeat that years form. for someone like Scott it is very much possible that this is the shape he produces the best results.
Yannick faced some very difficult circumstances after London. He never got back to his best, but he was never settled. He moved to America, had documented training troubles and tragically lost a close friend and fellow swimmer. I still believe we never saw the best of Yannick, certainly over 100m.
Alas, Duncan Scott isn’t Yannick Angel. Angel was a beautiful technician. If you watch Duncan swim, you’ll see they are thoroughly different swimmers. Scott’s kick is something else, his carriage is high, his stroke is almost jumpy. It’s a stroke I’ve always felt lent itself to strong men. We’ll see.
He definitely has more of a power style, but his current build has led him to be a 47.9 100 freestyler and 1:45.0 200 freestyler. His current physical stature is working. Naturally he will build muscle over the next few years but I don’t think building a physique similar to Chalmers or Magnussen would be ideal.
Certainly not advocating that hahaha – But, right now, I’d still class him as skinny, not simply ‘slight for a sprinter’. His development shall be intetesting.
Chalmers’ physique IS “what it is”; Magnussen noticeably bulked up (maybe due to full physical maturing/maybe partly due to dry land work) post London and it certainly did not prove to his advantage
Dressel and Duncan have the best potential to unleash as yet ……
I agree in stroke, but Dressel is a lot more well raced & drilled in his skills (starts & turns). Scott has a few tenths to find there.
Having seen him in the flesh, he is actually a pretty big guy. The only thing “skinny” about him really are his arms, (and I would question how much bigger arms would benefit him.) Also if you look at the likes of Mcevoy and to some extent Morozov, being bigger may not necessarily be the most beneficial way to go!