Duncan Scott: Olympic swimmer questioned future but focused on Paris 2024
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Duncan Scott, who claimed four medals at the last Olympics, says a tough 2023 made him question himself
Olympic gold medallist Duncan Scott says he has a "totally different mindset" this year after a tough 2023 left him questioning his future.
The 26-year-old posted mixed results amid training changes and some illness.
Scott has always maintained his target has been the Paris Olympics this summer, but admits he struggled to digest his form last year.
"There were quite obvious pointers, which were affecting my swimming," he said.
"But at the same time in my head, I'm like, that's an excuse - why I'm swimming like this? And it was getting quite frustrating. Obviously then a lot of these younger athletes [have been] coming through and kind of making me question things.
"How much longer should I swim for? How much better can I get? What am I doing wrong? Am I doing this correctly? I guess it can be quite a downward spiral.
"Making things a lot more simple - just turning up for training and getting this done, getting that done that period between April and the worlds [in July 2023] I was able to execute that really well.
"It's been a totally different mindset this year which has been really exciting."
'You wonder if it's really worth everything'
Scott became Great Britain's most decorated athlete at a single Olympics in Tokyo when he claimed four medals - one gold and three silver.
The Alloa swimmer will compete at the British Championships from 2-7 April in London, as the country's best race for places on this year's Olympic team.
And having experienced some disappointment in the trials before the World Championships last year, Scott believes he has come back stronger physically and mentally.
"Last year was quite challenging but I think probably most athletes get that at some point or several points throughout their career," Scott told BBC Scotland.
"Swimming is a sport of 20-plus hours a week, there's plenty of time when you're thinking to yourself following a black line up and down a pool. When things aren't going great you're like, 'is this just really worth everything that I'm doing?'
"I'd like to think I've grown a lot since that and there's a lot of learning that came from last year as well. So as much as it was really difficult at the time, I think now looking back at it, it was something well worth it as well."
Scott is relishing being a part of the "best ever" generation of British men's freestyle swimmers too, with 4x200m relay team-mates Tom Dean, Matt Richards and James Guy all having won individual Olympic or world titles.
Then there are the medley races that Scott has had so much success in, including Olympic silver in the 200m three years ago.
And the Scot says his training so far this year does give him enough confidence as he prepares to fight off stiff competition at the trials in two weeks' time.
"Whether I'm lying or telling the truth I've got to say that I'm fully, fully believing," Scott laughs. "It's probably like a boxing fight when everyone sticks their hand up thinking that they've won.
"I'm confident in the work that I've done for sure. I think that's really exciting, especially given where I was at last year.
"I've got a really important final two-week phase, a lot can change going into the trials but I'm sitting here quite confident."