Duncan Scott recalls being about 10 years old the first time he visited Tollcross Swimming Centre in Glasgow's east end. That pool is where he qualified for his first junior competition, where as a 17-year-old he won his debut Commonwealth Games medal in 2014, and where he claimed his first individual European title four years later.
Now, at 28, Scott returns as an eight-time Olympic medalist and Scotland's most decorated Commonwealth Games athlete. "I love this place," he told BBC Sport. "It holds a lot of good memories and a few vital moments in my career, and I hope this summer continues that."
Scott spoke at the reopening of Tollcross after a £3.75 million renovation, funded jointly by the local authority and Games organizers, ahead of the 2026 Commonwealth Games. While he values the pool as a community hub and has long advocated for saving swimming facilities from closure, his focus remains on the competition itself.
At the 2022 Birmingham Games, Scott won six medals—gold in the 200m freestyle and 200m individual medley, plus four bronzes—bringing his career Commonwealth Games total to 13. That tally surpassed shooter Alister Allan's record.
Scott has not finalized his event schedule for Glasgow but expects a lighter workload than in 2022. "There's a few individual ones I'd like to swim, and I'm always willing to put my hand up for the relays," he said. "The records are not something that I ever get too caught up in. It's just about getting better all the time for me."