MICHAEL JAMIESON took Olympic silver in the 200 metres breaststroke last night.

It was the 100th British swimming medal in the Olympic Games and the greatest swimming performance by a Scot since David Wilkie won gold at the Montreal Games in 1976. Only two Scots have won individual medals since, both of them bronze.

Jamieson smashed the British record for the third time in two days, finishing with 2:07.43, a whacking 0.77 seconds faster than the UK best he had set in the semi-final the previous evening. This was only 12 hundredths of a second outside the three year-old world best and it took a world, Olympic and European record from Daniel Gyurta to beat him. The Hungarian finished in 2:07.28, three hundredths inside the old mark by Australia's Christian Sprenger in 2009, which was set in the polyurethane suit era.

Third behind him was the Japanese icon Kosuke Katajima, who had been bidding for a third gold. Jamieson was fourth at halfway and third at the final turn, with Katajima second. Jamieson's last 50m was the fastest of anyone in the race, at 32.62.

It was a huge personal best, "pretty spectacular. I can only thank everyone for the support. It's been really overwhelming. I am delighted I could repay that tonight.

"I knew after last night I was capable of getting a medal and knew there was a chance of gold. But Daniel has been the overwhelming favourite this year. He's been challenging the world record all season. I am delighted I ran him so close. I can't really believe I have just swum 2:07, but I knew I had more to give.

"I spotted my friends and family as soon as I walked out for the medal ceremony. They've been designing banners the last couple of weeks and I spotted them tonight. It was important for me that they were here too so they know they were a part of this as well.

"In the last 18 months, getting a medal here has become more of a target. I think before that it was always a bit of a pipe dream. I've been in good form this week and it's a lot easier to swim when you've got a bit of confidence."

His success captured the imagination of his home city. The race was played on the big screen at Celtic Park and the Glaswegian was roared home by the crowd before the Champions League qualifier against HJK Helsinki.

When he heard this, he thought it was a joke. "They put a message on Twitter that said the swimming was going to be shown live at Parkhead before the game. Do you know the score actually? I'm hoping that they can get the result they need tonight as well."

But the one-time boy footballer and former Celtic season ticket-holder admitted that his medal was better than fulfilling a former ambition to pull on the hoops. "I was better at football than swimming when I was younger. Is this better? Yeah. Yeah, definitely."

But he is hoping for an invitation to Parkhead. "That would be amazing. I'm hoping to get up for a few more games next season as well. I was absolutely delighted tonight and it was pretty special to get a message from them. So thanks to them for their support."

He knew it was for real when manager Neil Lennon sent a good luck message.

Jamieson, 24 on Sunday, swam in Glasgow for several years, but is now based in Bath with team-mate Andrew Willis, who was eighth last night.

His Bath clubmates had a big banner that read "Good Luck MJ", but there was a good sprinkling of Saltires among the crowd.

This was a truly remarkable performance, but not the most intimidating experience of the Games for him. "I've still got the squad initiation test to look forward to next week. Thankfully it wasn't before the swimming because I'm more nervous about that than I was about my races this week. I think there would be a forfeit if I ran away on holiday and tried to dodge it."

His mother was a swimmer, while dad was a semi-pro footballer with Alloa, Stenhousemuir and Hearts, "but his career ended quite young, at 28."

What his parents have given him, he says, is the work ethic. "I don't think I have real elements of talent or anything," he said deprecatingly. "One thing my mum and dad have taught me is to work hard."

There was never much prospect of him trying to make it in football. "I didn't reach a great level. I played for Rossvale, as an immobile striker, and had just turned 13 when I made the decision to go with swimming."

Jamieson has joined an elite club. Only two Scots have medalled individually since Wilkie: Neil Cochrane (1984, 200m individual medley) and Graeme Smith (1996, 1500m freestyle), both bronze. Cochrane and Easter also won bronze in the 4x200m freestyle in Los Angeles. And Caitlin McClatchey's uncle, Alan, took bronze in the same event in 1976, the year Wilkie won in Montreal.

He must surely be wearying of hearing about Wilkie, but what does it mean to follow in his countryman's wake, although nearly eight seconds quicker than the 1976 winning time. "Olympic gold is the highest honour in the sport," he said. "Wilkie is a fantastic guy to follow. It's great for me as well, with the Glasgow Commonwealth Games just two years away. It's a bit of a homecoming for me."

There will be no complacency. "I've got Andrew Willis who's swimming amazingly well this week and who is going to be really tough to beat over the next 18 months. But that's what sport's all about. I'm going back home and I'm going to win there.

"It's the pool that I swam in for five or six years. It will be pretty special to go back there and hopefully I can get another medal."

There was a world best in the semis of the 200m breaststroke from the American Rebecca Soni, while Ryan Lochte beat Michael Phelps to reach today's 200m medley final which will give Phelps the chance of a 20th Olympic medal.