August 6, 2014
DUNCAN Scott has already had a year to remember, but the Glasgow swimmer isn't about to take his foot off the pedal with the Youth Olympic Games fast approaching.
Scott was one of the stars who made Glasgow 2014 the most successful yet for the home nation, helping the 4x200m freestyle team take silver behind Australia.
However, the 17-year-old didn't have time to pop the champagne corks after being selected for Team GB's 33-strong squad heading to Nanjing, China, for the Youth Olympic Games which get under way on August 16.
It is not the first time Scott will have swapped Scotland colours for Team GB's, having left last year's European Youth Olympic Festival in Holland with a gold and silver medal for his efforts.
And despite having shined so far this summer, he is adamant he is far from done just yet.
Scott said: "Last year was a good one and my coach and I sat down and we said, 'Right, more of the same this year.' Now 2014 is looking like being the best year of my career.
"At the European Youth Olympics last year I got gold in the 200m individual medley and silver in the 400m individual medley. It was a huge achievement for me because it was my first multi-sport event.
"I'd like to say that will have helped to prepare me for Nanjing but it is such a big jump from Europeans to the Youth Olympics, which is a worldwide event.
"But I'm really excited, it should be really good fun. I am looking to swim well. This will be my third and last big competition of the year so it would be good to go out on a high and get a medal.
Scott's Olympic selection confirmation came as he was winning three medals at the European Junior Championships in Holland.
"I found out I had made the team via Twitter actually," he added. "I got a notification as there was a picture announcement of all the swimming boys that had made the team.
"I was out at the European Juniors at the time with the three other guys that made the team so we had a celebration.
"I had a good European Junior competition.
"I won a gold in the 4x100m relay and bronze in the 4x200m freestyle and 200m individual gold. It's a good confidence boost going to Nanjing and doing the same events."
The British Olympic Association prepares and leads British athletes at the summer, winter and youth Olympic Games. It works in partnership with sport National Governing Bodies to enhance Olympic success and is responsible for championing the Olympic Values.
Read the original article at the Evening Times website.
