Duncan Scott has stressed he should “never be compared to Chris Hoy” after the 27-year-old’s gold medal as part of the Great Britain 4x200m freestyle relay team moved level with the legendary cyclist as Scotland’s most decorated Olympic athlete.
That’s the problem with Scott: he accepts compliments just as easily as he accepts criticism.
Unless he truly feels he has earned it, the Alloa swimmer is not interested. He is one of Scotland’s – and Britain’s – top Olympic performers 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. I think that detracts from what he’s achieved,” Scott said.
“My teammates have won so many medals and I can’t thank them enough for what they do and how much they have done.
“They put me in a phenomenal position tonight, as they always do. It’s pretty cool numbers-wise, but he’s got a lot better suits than me.”
It is true, Hoy has six gold medals as part of his haul of seven. What is also true is that Scott has never won an individual world or Olympic title.
Five of his seven Olympic medals came in relay events, and he said he is “fortunate” to have “phenomenal” teammates who help him succeed.
“You get confidence when you go out on the block with those guys,” Scott said.
“I’m behind an Olympic champion, a world champion and a world champion. I think, ‘I’m in a pretty good place.’
“I can just float in it at the end.”
James Guy, Tom Dean and Matt Richards kept Scott in first place going into the final leg, but for the second Olympic Games in a row he was the one who swam the fastest time of the quartet.
It was hardly floating. But Scott is always willing to downplay his role.
You get the feeling that he won’t 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, when she missed out on a medal in the 200m freestyle by 0.08 seconds, was a reminder of how cruel elite sport can be.
Scott insists he has ‘parked’ the blow and can now concentrate on the 200m individual medley on Friday, where he will face France’s Olympic figurehead Leon Marchand.
It would be Scott’s greatest achievement to beat the home favourite at La Defense Arena, a stadium that explodes with energy whenever Marchand even pokes his head out of the tunnel.
With his friend and teammate Dean also in contention for a medal, this is set to be one of the most exciting events of the Paris Games.
Either way, Scott’s medal haul, versatility in the pool and competitive spirit will leave a legacy and his name will be among those of other Olympic greats.
But don’t tell him that.
