If Duncan Scott is getting sick of the sight of silver, then he wasn’t letting on. 

Three Olympic medals, regardless of colour, is a remarkable achievement but when that trio are all second-place finishes, the nagging frustration at a missing gold must start to build. 

While Scott’s two relay silvers from Rio 2016 were the pinnacle Team GB could realistically expect to reach, given United States dominance in the events, Tuesday’s individual 200m freestyle medal at the Tokyo Aquatics Centre felt different. 

Having headed into the event as favourite and qualified fastest from the semi-finals, the Glaswegian had to come to terms with being beaten by just 0.04 seconds – out-touched at the wall by compatriot, good friend and surprise winner Tom Dean. 

Scott was a part of history as Team GB recorded a swimming one-two for the first time since 1908 and having swum a personal best time of 1:44.26, he arguably couldn’t have done any more. 

He was genuine in his delight for Dean – who contracted COVID-19 in September last year and again in January before rebounding in style – and any suggestion that having a gold medal in their Tokyo apartment but it not being his would be a source of disappointment was batted away. 

“I’m buzzing for Deano,” said Scott. “He’s had a really strange 18 months, catching COVID-19 twice, he got a monster PB in trials but to see him move it on again and win gold is phenomenal. 

“The best possible outcome is to go 1-2, we’ve delivered on that, I got a PB as well in the final, so I can’t complain at all. 

“Coming out, there are plenty of things which I could have done better which I’ll take a look at and go over but I’m really happy with that. 

“This is the biggest medal of my individual career. I’ve won Commonwealth and European gold but I wouldn’t say that’s matched by an Olympic medal, the pinnacle of our sport. 

“We’re in an apartment together in Tokyo. I’ve been on several teams with Deano now and we get on really well, whether that’s playing cards or watching films together or whatever. 

“Even before that, racing with Jimmy [James Guy], the 4x200m guys always have a really good connection and we’re mates outside of the pool. 

“I really enjoy racing with Deano, it’s really good fun.” 

The list of British Olympians who have the same number of silver medals without winning gold as Scott is getting shorter and shorter – the Scot joining six others at 0-3, with equestrian star Ian Stark the lone athlete sitting on four silvers but no Olympic title. 

The wait for a first Scottish Olympic swimming gold since David Wilkie in 1976 also goes on, although with the 200m individual medley, and more pertinently the 4x200m freestyle relay, still to come – that drought could yet end before these Games are out. 

“The 4x200m is looking in great shape,” admitted Scott. “With the way we were able to swim that race, both of us getting a PB, it puts us in a great spot. 

“We can’t now get complacent with the way we swam individually, that means nothing from now on. 

“We need to try and build back up and get ready for the 4x200m. There are some really strong teams in there, Australia are world champions, you can never count America out, Russian Federation look strong and Italy were really good at the Worlds.” 

Elsewhere in the pool on Tuesday, Kirkcaldy-born, University of Stirling athlete Kathleen Dawson finished sixth in the women’s 100m backstroke final. 

The event turned into one of the most high-quality of the Games, with the Olympic record being broken three times in the heats and again in the final, by champion Kaylee McKeown. 

And during an Olympics when the times in many other swimming disciplines have generally been slow, Dawson couldn’t hide an element of frustration at the situation she found herself in, as well as not delivering her own best performance on the day. 

“I can’t help but feel disappointed, especially having gone quicker in the heats and semi-finals,” said Dawson, who is able to train full-time and benefit from world class facilities, technology, coaching and support teams thanks to National Lottery funding – which has never been more important in getting her to the start line after a turbulent year.. 

“It felt like the best race I could have put out so I can’t dwell on it too much, I just have to look forward to the relay now. 

“The strength of the field is not a surprise to me, it’s just a little bit gutting – why did I have to start dropping 58s when the field is so stacked now! 

“I can’t help but feel proud of being part of this history though. Four of the five fastest all-time swimmers were in that race. 

“Even though I didn’t put out a time that matches the fifth fastest time in history, it’s still such a stacked event to be in.” 

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