Duncan returns to cold comfort

DUNCAN Scott believes coming home to a freezing flat will soon bring him back down to earth after his Commonwealth Games heroics.

However, the swimmer was careful not to get too high after his sixmedal haul in Australia, which was the best ever by a Scot at a Commonwealth Games.

The former Strathallan School pupil won one gold, one silver and four bronze medals to add to the relay silver he collected at Glasgow 2014.

However, the 20-yearold does not expect life to change much.

“My flatmate was away so I reckon my flat will be freezing,” he said.

“It will just be the same. I’ve got an exam in three weeks. It will be the same old, same old, back to my old life.”

Scott was Team Scotland’s flag-bearer at the closing ceremony but he shielded himself from much of the hype.

“When I’m in a competition like this, the night before I swim I turn off all social media,” he said. “And then it will be a day or two after I finish competing before I turn it on.

“However, it’s quite controlled the way I turn it on. I don’t really see notifications.

“I have gradually been seeing messages coming in and all the hype.

“The support and messages I have had have been amazing and I have always had great support from family and friends and even beyond that.

“A couple more people in the airport noticed me, I guess, but, other than that, it’s been the same.”

Scott insists he took as much pleasure in being part of Scotland’s historic 44-medal collection as his own personal success.

“It’s a huge honour to be part of the best overseas Games ever,” said Scott, who clinched a place in the Great Britain squad for Glasgow’s European Championships in August. “Everyone’s contribution has been phenomenal.”