'Going to be special' - Scott seals another tilt at gold

Duncan Scott said this summer's Olympics will be "pretty special" after he set up another tilt at gold by winning the 200m medley British title.

He beat rival Tom Dean and was under the qualification time to impressively win in one minute 55.91 seconds.

Scott won Olympic silver in the event in 2021, one of four Tokyo medals, and will likely challenge Dean and dominant Frenchman Leon Marchand in Paris.

"It's a stacked event like all of the events," the Scot, 26, said.

Scott, who has six Olympic medals but is yet to win an individual gold, showed his form with the second-quickest time of his career, having taken silver in the 100m freestyle on Thursday.

Dean, the Olympic champion in the 200m freestyle, was also under the qualification time, 0.53 seconds behind in silver to effectively seal his place in the event in Paris.

Scott took silver and Dean bronze at last year's World Championships, behind Marchand who has broken various medley records in recent years, including the great American Michael Phelps' world record over 400m.

Another contender will be China's Wang Shun, who won gold in Tokyo and set the fastest time in the world last year.

"I try not to look at what other people are doing around the world but you have to block quite a few things out to avoid what he [Marchand] is doing," said Scott, who was already confirmed to travel to Paris for the men's 4x100m freestyle relay, and is likely to compete in the 100m freestyle after his results this week.

"He is a really special talent with what he is able to do - break Phelps' record, I thought as a young kid I would never see that go.

"He is really special but at the same time there is Wang, and plenty of Americans. It's going to be pretty special."

More to follow