SUPER Sunday
Three golds, one silver and four bronzes lifted Scotland’s medal tally to 23 on a glorious day at the Commonwealth Games
3 Scotland’s golden boys at the Commonwealth Games yesterday : Clockwise from main: Cyclist Mark Stewart roars with delight after winning gold in the men’s points race; bowlers Darren Burnett, Ronald Duncan and Derek Oliver fly the flag as winners in the triples; Duncan Scott shows off his medal after winning the 100m freestyle, Scotland’s first swimming gold of the Games.
Duncan Scott was short of sane, reasoned reaction. Doesn’t happen too often, he conceded. The 20-year-old brims with talent and has two Olympic silvers already but there was a sense that the Scot surprised even himself last night as he bolted to Commonwealth Games gold in the 100 metres freestyle final to underpin once more his status as swimming’s maestro in the making.
It wasn’t merely that he seized a gold to add to three bronzes captured earlier in the weekend, and then later added another bronze in the 4x200 freestyle relay to set a new Scottish benchmark for the most medals within a single Games. It was the calibre of the opposition that trailed Scott home in his solo tour de force. The supreme Chad le Clos, of South Africa, who snared silver as his young foe reached the wall in 48.02 seconds. Australia’s Kyle Chalmers took bronze with his ferocious compatriot Cameron Mcevoy missing out in fourth. Tyros each.
Not every event at these Games provides world-class contests but no doubt this was an elite examination and the Stirling University student passed with flying colours as he timed his decisive late surge to perfection. “I think there might have been eight different race plans going on, everyone swims it completely differently,” he said. “But in the 100 freestyle, you’ve got some boys incredibly fast for the first 50 and working it back on the second.
“I had to stick to what I’m good at, that’s bringing it home. I had to stay quite composed and let Chad go out and try to hunt him down. I’m pleased with how I executed.”
There are further collective scraps still to come. His medal collection might still rise before he departs Australia and switches attention to August’s European Championships in Glasgow. On the road to the 2020 Olympics, Scott has now become the hunted rather than the prey and he will relish the challenge of besting the likes of Le Clos again and again.
“I’ve raced Chad a few times,” the Scot said. “It’s safe to say he’s come out on top more times than me. He’s beaten the greatest of all time, Michael Phelps. I’m sure he’s going to go on to become a great himself, if he’s not already a great. He was the first person to say congratulations to me. He’s a gentleman and one a sport like swimming really needs. It’s good to beat him but he’s an incredible athlete.”
With three-quarters of the British line-up which took Olympic silver in Rio lined up in Scottish colours – with Mark Szaranek joining the garlanded Stephen Milne, Dan Wallace and Scott – third behind Australia and England in the 4x200 felt like a minor under-achievement. “We came here thinking we could challenge but it was going to be tough,” Wallace said. “But it was great to be part of the mix.”
Expect more from the young talisman, he added. “Duncan’s a world-class athlete and he’s only now starting to show what he can do. He’s brought in five already so hopefully he can win more individual medals and help us get relays medals. He’s an unreal talent. He’s got such a fresh mindset. He’s up for a challenge. He came here wanting to win as many medals as he could. He’s fearless and works hard and it’s great to have someone like that alongside you.”
Adam Peaty will pursue his second gold in today’s 50m breaststroke final, with the Englishman setting a Games record of 26.49 seconds in his heat. Following his victory in the 100m, there was dissatisfaction, a dissection of a performance which he felt below his best.
A day on, this felt more polished, more free and easy. “I’ve learnt as much these past two days than I have done these past two years,” he conceded. Education in the art of learning to exhale which will serve him well as he plots a path towards further Olympic success in 2020.
“It was a reality check. If I go into these next two years as focused and as serious again, I won’t be Olympic champion. If I’m relaxed, do what I did the last four years that made me successful, hopefully I’ll retain that title. That’s a massive learning curve for me.”
His remains a fairytale. Four years undefeated. It all looks so effortless, even if the reality is anything but, with twice-daily sessions overseen by his coach Mel Marshall and all the attention he now commands. “At the moment I’m just saying, how can I make myself as happy as possible?” he declared. “How can I enjoy it as much as possible? Then the performance will come.”
BEATING THE BEST “I’ve raced Chad a few times. It’s safe to say he’s come out on top more times than me. It’s good to beat him but he’s an incredible athlete”
DUNCAN SCOTT