Duncan Scott Receives OBE From King Charles At Ceremony In Edinburgh
Double Olympic relay champion Duncan Scott received his OBE for services to swimming from King Charles at a ceremony in Edinburgh and described it as “a very special moment for my family and me.”
Scott received his honours from the King at an investiture ceremony held at the Palace of Holyroodhouse in the Scottish capital.
The 28-year-old revealed that it wasn’t their first meeting with the pair having met in 2017 when the then Prince Charles opened a pool in New Cumnock, a village in East Ayrshire.
Since claiming 4×2 silver with Team Scotland at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scott has won Olympic, world and European titles with a vast collection of silverware.
He became Scotland’s most-decorated Olympian at Paris 2024 when an historic gold with the men’s 4×2 relay and second straight 200IM silver took to eight his Olympic medal haul, one more than cyclist Sir Chris Hoy. Scott’s haul across three consecutive Games at Rio 2016, Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024 comprises two golds and six silvers.
His OBE (Order of the British Empire) was announced in the New Year’s Honours List and follows the award of an MBE (Member of the Order of the British Empire) in 2021. The honours recognise outstanding achievement or service to the community.
Scott posted on social media, saying: “OBE 🎖️ A very special moment for my family and me 🫂 Thank you for the lovely messages 💜 Incredibly humbling being recognised for what I do and love. Too many more years of services to swimming 🫡”
Described by 4×2 teammate and fellow Olympic champion James Guy as “a skinnier version of Michael Phelps,” the regard in which Scott is held by the swimming community was reflected in the congratulations offered to him on social media. Among those to respond were triple Olympic champion Ranomi Kromowidjojo, nine-time Olympic medallist Kyle Chalmers and Cate Campbell and Ariarne Titmus who share eight Games titles.
Duncan Scott’s Roll Call
Olympic Games: Two golds, six silvers
World Championships: Four golds, two silvers, three bronzes
European Championships (long-course): Seven golds, four silvers
European Championships: (short-course): Two golds, two silvers, two bronzes
Commonwealth Games: Three golds, two silvers, eight bronzes
Up next for Scott are the World Championships in Singapore. It’s 10 years since the Scot made his worlds debut in Kazan, Russia, where he anchored the British quartet in the heats of the 4×2 before being replaced in the final by Guy who steered them to victory.