The parents of Olympic titan Duncan Scott have spoken of their delight following their son’s record-breaking four-medal haul.

Alloa-born Scott won his fourth medal of the Tokyo Games in the early hours of Sunday – making three silvers and one gold – the highest total for any British athlete at a single Olympics.

His parents, Nigel Scott and Joy Macnaughton, told BBC’s Good Morning Scotland programme: “Duncan always gives us a good show, we’re delighted for him.”

Mr Scott said there had been “nail-biting and jumping up and down in front of the TV”, adding “there will definitely be celebrations” on the swimmer’s return.

Mr Scott said the extraordinary Olympic tale “all starts back in Troon” in south Ayrshire.

He said: “We wanted him and his sister to be able to swim. You could do one day a week but we decided the way to do it was a two-week crash course.

“So during one summer they did a two-week course in Troon swimming pool and were able to swim from there.

“Then the teacher says ‘You’re quite a good little swimmer, would you like to train with the local swimming club?’

“The next thing you know you’re in a swimming club, the next thing is your first gala … and for the next 12-15 years you’re dragged into running swimming clubs and helping kids to swim.”

Duncan Scott
Duncan Scott on the way to silver medal (Joe Giddens/PA)

Duncan Scott’s mother, Joy Macnaughton, said when her son had competed previously, in places like Singapore and in the 2016 Olympics in Rio, they have watched from home because it is “hugely expensive” and parents are only guaranteed one ticket.

“But we would have been in Tokyo because it was my 60th last year so it would have been a double-whammy,” she said.

She added that her son’s mental resilience may be traced to having played tennis as a youngster, adding: “When you play tennis and lose a point you have to drop that and how you have performed immediately, so I think that’s been hugely beneficial.”

Nigel Scott said they have not had much contact with his son, who likes to shut himself off during competitions.

He said: “It’s quite normal for Duncan, we’ve got used to that over the years – when he goes to competition he silences, he doesn’t pay attention to social media, doesn’t communicate with the outside world at all.”

Scott has won gold in the men’s 4x200m freestyle relay and silver in the solo event as well as finishing runner-up in the 200m individual medley, and it was another second spot on the podium on Sunday.

Luke Greenbank, Adam Peaty, James Guy and Scott took silver in the men’s 4×100 metres medley relay final, finishing 0.73 seconds behind the United States, who claimed gold in a world record time of three minutes and 26.78 seconds.