Scotland’s silver swimmer doesn’t f ind it hard to be humble as he listens to what Pele and mum and dad Jamieson have to say

MICHAEL JAMIESON had only just written himself into Olympic history when he found himself in the company of a living legend. But, if the young Scotsman believed that a silver medal at the London Games was validation of a loftier status, one of sport’s true greats was about to bestow some guidance on humility.

‘Last week, I was at a function in London with the University of Edinburgh, whom I occasionally train with, and Pele was there receiving an honorary degree,’ said Jamieson. ‘I got to shake his hand, which was pretty overwhelming.

‘He pointed to my medal and said: “This means nothing if you don’t respect the people around you”. He’s quite religious and he just told me to work hard and do my family proud.

‘We talk about sporting icons but it’s probably him and Muhammad Ali who are on top of everyone’s list. I felt privileged to have met him.’

While Pele’s words were undoubtedly wise, the very fact that Jamieson’s father, Michael Snr, was there to witness such an indelible moment should have comforted the brilliant Brazilian that his advice was already being heeded.

Having heard that he would have the chance to rub shoulders with arguably the world’s greatest footballer, Jamieson Jnr had immediately booked his father, a former semiprofessional player in his own right, a flight down from Glasgow so he, too, could meet the iconic star.

Such a moment seems indicative of the 24-year-old’s character, with Team GB’s new swimming hero quick to praise those who helped him on his way to a remarkable second place in the 200 metres breaststroke final at London 2012 — starting, of course, with his father and mother, Jackie.

‘My parents have been there from the start,’ said Jamieson, who only lost out on a gold medal to a worldrecord-breaking performance by Hungarian Daniel Gyurta.

‘I was delighted for them, as well, because it has been a pretty rough journey for them.

‘The last couple of years I have been supported by the National Lottery and UK Sport but before that it was all my parents. And like so many others, they were staring into financial oblivion for a while trying to support me.

‘I’m delighted they were there (in London) and proud for them, as it’s their advice and expertise that’s stood me in good stead.’

While his mother was also a swimmer, it’s his father’s sporting career, which included spells at Hearts, Stenhousemuir and Alloa, that would have seemed to have held