Duncan Scott insisted “I should never be compared to Chris Hoy” after the 27-year-old’s gold medal as part of Great Britain’s 4x200m freestyle relay team brought him level with the legendary cyclist as Scotland’s most decorated Olympic athlete.
That’s the thing with Scott, he takes flattery about the same as he takes criticism.
Unless he truly feels he has earned it, the Alloa swimmer is not interested. He’s one of Scotland – and Britain’s – high Olympic achievers who keeps a low profile.
Yet the numbers are there. That’s seven Olympic medals to his name, two gold and five silver. Only cyclists Sir Jason Kenny and Sir Bradley Wiggins are ahead of him on the British list.
“I’m nowhere near the level of athlete Chris Hoy has been – I think that’s taking away from what he’s achieved,” Scott said.
“I’ve had so many medals won by relay team-mates and I can’t thank them enough for what they do and how much they’ve done.
“They put me in a phenomenal position there tonight, like they always do. It’s pretty cool in terms of numbers, but he’s got quite a few better colours than I do.”
It’s true, Hoy has six golds as part of his haul of seven. What’s also true is Scott has never won an individual world or Olympic title.
Five of his seven medals at Olympic Games have come in relay events. That’s why he was at pains to point out he is “fortunate” to have “phenomenal” team-mates in helping deliver success.
“It fills you with confidence going up in the block with those guys,” Scott said.
“I am standing behind an Olympic champion, a world champion and a world champion. I’m thinking, ‘I am in a pretty good place’.
“I get to just float in at the end.”
James Guy, Tom Dean, and Matt Richards made sure Scott was in first place for the last leg, but for the second Olympics in a row, it was him who swam the fastest time of the quartet.
It was hardly floating. But Scott is always keen to play down his part.
You get the sense he will only be completely satisfied with his own achievements and praise until he has more individual glory. Even then, it’s hard to be sure.
Monday’s painful fourth place, missing a medal by 0.08 seconds in the 200m freestyle, was a reminder of how savage elite sport can be.
Scott insists he has “parked” that blow and can focus on the 200m individual medley on Friday, where he will go up against France’s poster boy of the Games, Leon Marchand.
Beating the home favourite in the cauldron of La Defense Arena, which bursts with energy every time Marchand so much as peeks his head out the tunnel, would be Scott’s crowning achievement.
With his friend and team-mate Dean also in the medal mix, it will be one of the compelling events of this Paris Games.
Regardless, Scott’s medal haul, versatility in the pool and competitive edge will leave a legacy and his name is up alongside some Olympic greats.
Just don’t tell him that.
Source Agencies
