After finishing 14th and out of the men’s 200m freestyle final while competing at the 2016 British Olympic Trials, Scottish swimmer Jak Scott announced his retirement.
The 24-year-old freestyle specialist, who trains and represents the University of Stirling with Ross Murdoch and Duncan Scott, first put himself on the map as a member of the silver medal-winning 800m freestyle relay at the 2010 Commonwealth Games. Scott was also on the British 800m freestyle relay that finaled at the 2013 World Championships in Barcelona.
Scott’s individual best times include a 49.87 100m freestyle and 1:48.00 200m freestyle, both earned back in 2012. Last year Scott finished in 11th place in the men’s 200m freestyle after prelims at the 2015 British Championships, earning a time of 1:50.03.
The accounting student credits much of his solid swimming career to his upbringing, saying that “I’m immensely grateful to my parents who have taught me that without hard work, you achieve nothing.”
Scott is also quoted as saying that “What you do outside of training is just as important as what you do in the pool. Sporting excellence is a 24/7 job.”
Below are the retirement messages Jack Scott tweeted out earlier today.
Every good thing must come to an end. The journey to this point has been epic with @UofSSwim past and present. You guys deserve it all!!
— Jak Scott (@jak_scott) April 17, 2016
I can't thank my family enough. The sacrifices and choices they made allowed me to achieve things beyond my wildest dreams.
— Jak Scott (@jak_scott) April 17, 2016
HUGE thank you to @UofSSwim @SteveTigg @sportscotland @ScottishSwim @britishswimming for all the memories. I will make sure I keep in touch!
— Jak Scott (@jak_scott) April 17, 2016
I wish you well jak in your future and am sure you will have plenty of great memories to treasure and maybe pass onto others in the future of swimming ????