27 July 2015

Duncan Scott has stressed the need to perform when it matters ahead of the World Championships this month after the Stirling teenager won six medals in as many events in the inaugural European Games.

Scott won three golds and three silvers as part of his haul in Baku, Azerbaijan, last month in what turned out to be a well-worth trip.

This year’s World Championships – which sees the swimming get underway on August 2 – will be the 18-year-old’s maiden global gathering.

But despite having never tasted this level of competition before, Scott admits thoughts of Rio and next summer’s Olympics will be firmly in his mind in Kazan, Russia.

“Rio is just around the corner and a good performance at the Worlds will put me in good stead for that and it is just about continually putting in good performances,” said Scott.

“After the World Championships, I will sit down with my coach and we will plan for the year ahead.

“At the start of the season I wanted to make my first senior World Championships so I’m delighted to be in the team and now I’m in, I want to perform when it matters.”

Scott has a busy year ahead of him as he juggles preparing for the biggest moment of his sporting career with starting a Business and Sports Studies degree at the University of Stirling.

Scott only expects to take part in the relays in the World Championships, however, his schedule in Baku was far more hectic.

He won gold in his very first race in Russia in the 4x100m freestyle and the success continued, as he topped the podium in the 100m and 200m freestyle, alongside silvers in the 4x100m mixed free, 4x200m free and 4x100m relay.

The University of Stirling Swimming Club member added: “I was absolutely delighted with my performance at the European Games as I picked up six medals from six races.

“I think because of how well the rest of the team started, it demanded that you performed well because everyone else was.

“My performance in Baku gives me confidence going into the World Championships although it is a completely different ball game.

“It is open and I won’t be able to control the races or pace myself in the heats like at other events. I will need to swim fast from the off.

“I’m going to take great experience from the World Championships no matter how much of a part I play. I’m really looking forward to it.”

Read the original article at the swimming.org website