Duncan Scott and Britain’s greatest put together for Glasgow pool thriller

Olympic champions Duncan Scott, Tom Dean, Matt Richards and James Guy are set to go head-to-head in a 200m freestyle showdown packed with world-class talent.

Swimming’s Race of the Century pitted four of the most talented men ever to grace a swimming pool against one another over 200m freestyle.

At the 2004 Olympics in Athens, world record holder Ian Thorpe triumphed ahead of defending champion Pieter van den Hoogenband and Michael Phelps in a race featuring swimmers who combined to win 34 Olympic gold medals over the course of their careers.

More than two decades on, a host of Olympic champions will race over the same distance at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow in a Battle of Britain – and included in that mix will be Scotland’s Duncan Scott.

British swimmers have dominated the event on the Olympic stage over the last two cycles, joining forces to claim 4x200m relay gold in both Tokyo and Paris. Not only that, on an individual level, Tom Dean finished on the top step of the podium in Japan, with Scott taking silver, while Matt Richards emulated the latter in the French capital.

Their great strength has been their teamwork and unity, but teammates are set to become rivals at Tollcross International Swimming Centre this summer. That is because the six Olympic gold medallists from those relay teams represent four different home nations, setting up the prospect of a battle royale at Glasgow 2026.

The home crowd will be throwing their weight behind Scott, the reigning champion over 200m freestyle, returning to Glasgow 12 years on from senior international debut at the same competition, in the same pool.

Reflecting on returning to Glasgow, he said: “To think my first-ever Commonwealth Games was in 2014 and for the Games to be Glasgow for 2026 is special.

“I have fond memories of 2014; the way the country got behind all the athletes, and how Team Scotland responded to that in terms of success.”

Four years ago, he edged out Team England’s Dean, earning a small measure of revenge for the Olympic final in Tokyo 12 months earlier. But at the relatively advanced age of 30, in swimming terms at least, it is James Guy who might be the form contender for England.

Guy has a pair of Commonwealth titles to his name, both in the 4x100m medley relay, with 13 medals in all, having also made his debut in Glasgow. And as he prepares to come up against Scott, alongside whom he has won European, world and Olympic titles, he is relishing the opportunity to take on his teammates on their own turf.

He said: “The Commonwealth Games is always a bit different, I’m from Manchester, I’m very proud of where I’m from and I know the Scottish team, you don’t really compete for your home nation, so to be in their territory, it’s like a massive duel in the pool. I’m really excited to be here again, 12 years later. Now as the older man of the team, 30 years old.

“I thought Birmingham would be my last one but I’m still here and probably in better shape than I was a few years ago. I’m a lot more laid back than I used to be. I’m just enjoying life and whatever I do now in my career is all a bonus.”

The competition is far from just an Anglo-Scottish affair however, with Richards, a former world champion in the event, representing Wales, along with fellow Paris champion Kieran Bird. And rounding out the home nations, Northern Ireland’s Jack McMillan, who trains alongside Scott and Dean in Stirling, will be looking to prove that he is more than just a top-quality relay contributor.

“The Commonwealth Games mean a big deal because I get to represent Northern Ireland and I don’t get to do that too often,” said McMillan.

“I’ve done the Youth Games and then Birmingham 2022, so it’s great that it’s coming around again and I’m looking forward to representing my country again.”

While they will have to go some to match the exploits of swimming’s all-time greats in the Race of the Century in Athens, there is a case that the Commonwealth 200m freestyle final in Glasgow will be as high-class a British field as we have ever seen in a pool.

Six medals at Birmingham 2022 secured Scott’s place as Team Scotland’s most decorated athlete of all-time. His golds in the 200m Freestyle and 200m Individual Medley, and four bronze medals took his overall tally to 13, a feat unmatched by any other Scottish athlete in history.

Winning six medals, Scott was star of the pool on the Gold Coast 2018, becoming Scotland’s most decorated athlete at a single Games and the first Scottish swimmer to win gold in the 100m Freestyle.

His performance showed the progress he had made since winning silver for Team Scotland in the 4x200m Freestyle Relay at the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games at the age of 17.

Scott said: “It is very exciting. Not often do you get a home Commonwealth Games, even less often do you get two. I am very spoiled and that buzz is really starting throughout the country. Once the baton was in Scotland, visiting Islands, up and down the countryside, it created a buzz that the Games brings.

“I would never describe myself in that way (as the face of the Games). Team Scotland is very good across the board, Athletic, Swimming and plenty other sports.

“It is well known that the Tartan Army travels well. It was cool seeing the games in the World Cup, seeing how well the Scotland fans were perceived.

“Anytime Glasgow hosts a competition, sport or music, the city produces a great atmosphere. In the venues it now feels like any other major competition, and the crowds will be phenomenal.”

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