Duncan Scott first swimmer selected for Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games

Team Scotland has confirmed the nation’s most decorated Commonwealth Games athlete, Duncan Scott, will lead its charge in the pool at the Glasgow 2026 Games.

Scott, who has amassed a record 13 Commonwealth medals across three Games, becomes the first swimmer officially selected for next summer’s home event.

His haul of six medals at Birmingham 2022, including gold in the 200m Freestyle and 200m Individual Medley, cemented his place as Scotland’s most successful Commonwealth athlete in history.

The 28-year-old now wants to use the 2026 games to “build a legacy” in Scotland.

Speaking to STV News, he said: “Not often do you get to compete at a home Commonwealth Games, and not often do you get to do it twice.

“Last time I was 17 on the team, and just happy to be there and have any part of the team. It’s such a good competition and it’s kind of the reason what made me fall in love with competitive swimming.

“I think the crowd and atmosphere that Glasgow brings in every sporting contest is great so I think it will help get the most out of everyone.

“Recently with Scottish swimming we’ve been speaking about how we can build a legacy and the one thing that we can do is get mandatory school swimming into it, and I think off the back of 2014, the legacy that brought, is for certain we wouldn’t be able to host 2026 without 2014 and the facilities that are in place. So you know, that’s something that we want to create.

“Hopefully, it will be a quick start to a more active and healthy lifestyle throughout Scotland.”

Duncan has previously amassed a record 13 Commonwealth medals across three Games. STV News

Duncan continues to shine on the global stage.

Four medals at Tokyo 2020 made him Team GB’s most decorated athlete at a single Olympic Games, and in Paris last year he overtook Sir Chris Hoy to become Scotland’s most decorated Olympian.

Team Scotland Chef de Mission Elinor Middlemiss welcomed his announcement, saying: “We are delighted to welcome Duncan back to the team for Glasgow 2026.

“Duncan’s successes with both Team Scotland and Team GB have been truly inspirational, and we look forward to the next chapter in Glasgow next summer, the city where he won his very first medal with Team Scotland.

“Athletes of the calibre of Duncan, along with the three Athletics team members named so far, are spearheading our selections at this early stage from what is already shaping up to be a strong team.”

Scott’s selection follows his meeting of the Phase 1 selection requirements, nomination by Scottish Swimming and ratification by Commonwealth Games Scotland.

Athletes from all 10 sports and six para-sports on the Glasgow 2026 programme will be confirmed in the months ahead as Team Scotland builds towards what promises to be an electrifying home Games.

Glasgow’s commonwealth games will see ten sports and six Paralympic sports take place across four venues in the city.

It will begin on July 23 and run until August 2, with 133 sessions of sport, including more than 50 medal sessions.

Over 3,000 of the world’s top athletes from 74 nations and territories are set to attend.