DUNCAN Scott has conquered the Commonwealth. Now he has designs on world domination.

No sooner had this 20-year-old kilted crusader from Alloa given himself clear blue water in the all-time lists by racking up his sixth medal of these games with a silver in the 200m individual medley, than he was dreaming of throwing himself back in at the deep end against America’s all-conquering aquatics team.

Two of them, Caeleb Dressel and Nathan Adrian, left Scott in their wake in the final of his favourite event, the 100m freestyle, at last year’s World Championships in Budapest. But by the time this former Strathallan school pupil returns to that arena in Gwangju, South Korea, next July – not to mention the Olympics in Tokyo in 2020 – Scott plans to be closing fast.

Every bit as fast, you might say, as he was in the Optus Aquatic Arena yesterday as he produced a trademark late charge to move from sixth to second behind Australia’s Mitch Larkin in the 200IM or when he was taking inches off South Africa’s anchor man Bradley Tandy’s sizeable last-leg lead with every single stroke in the dying embers of the 4x100m individual medley.

By the end, only 0.36 seconds stood between him and a magnificent seventh medal. Only two men, his fellow swimmer Gregor Tait in Melbourne in 2006 and Shooter Jon Hammond in Delhi in 2010 have ever managed four at the same games.

While Scott’s final tally of one gold, one silver and four bronzes marked him out as the most versatile swimmer in these games, that elusive seventh one would have put him amongst exalted company indeed.

Only Chad Le Clos (2014), Michael Klim (1998) and Ian Thorpe (2002) populate a list of global superstars who have ever gained seven medals at the same Commonwealth Games.

If it is no coincidence that his long-term coach Steven Tigg once handed him a copy of the biography of Thorpe, who was watching poolside last night from the commentary booth, Scott knows that only winning individual gold at World and Olympic level would elevate him to the level of legends such as David Wilkie. Don’t bet against it.

“I wouldn’t say I’m at the top of the game at the moment,” admitted Scott. “As good as an achievement as Commonwealth Games is, a lot of great nations are missing, America to name just one. They have a huge dominance within world swimming and there are a lot of guys in the 100 freestyle, to name one event, that could have quite easily beaten me there just with their PBs.

“So there’s plenty more for me to do and there’s a lot more that needs to be done,” he added. “But I’m really happy with my performances. Before, it was more like ‘I know I’ve got that ability’ but it was good to get the execution this week.”

Scott was enough of a national hero already without emerging in full national dress, first for his 200IM medal ceremony, and then alongside his relay team-mates Mark Szaranek, Ross Murdoch and Dan Wallace, to take a special bow ahead of the final race.

This was a coda from the closing night in the pool at Glasgow 2014, Scott watching on from the stands as an impressionable 16-year-old who had to be content with two relay swims. Perhaps there are teenage swimmers out there equally impressed by what Scott has achieved in what has been a gruelling six-day period to follow in his footsteps.

“The guys did it in Glasgow, I watched them from the stands that time, and it was great for us to do it again tonight,” said Scott. “I had plenty of time so I took my time, taking off my sporran and my kilt. The others just took it all off in a oner! I’d like to see you try to take a kilt off in front of 10,000 people with a 4x100 medley about to start!

“Most of the mums and dads of the swimmers were all sitting up together, having a great time,” Scott added. “It’ll be sad to see their faces tomorrow morning once it’s all over.

“I haven’t really spoken to my parents so far, I’ve had my head in competition mode but I know they’ll be immensely proud. They’ve been holding the banner up, they’ve got their hats on and, no matter what the results were, they’d have had fun and enjoyed it.

“It’s just been an honour to represent Scotland. It’s something I did four years ago in Glasgow, where I got to race in two relay swims, and one of them I was fortunate enough to medal in. I’ve loved every minute of it, but there’s a massive team behind me.”

The swim team ended with nine medals in all, just one behind track cycling. He was no one-man team, but from the moment his teacher Elaine Johnston set eyes on him as an 11-year old, she had an inkling she was on to something special.

By the time he was 13, he was winning eight different age group events at the Scottish nationals. “From the moment he walked through the pool doors, Duncan showed the signs of being talented,” said Johnston.

“He wasn’t just good at one discipline, he excelled at them all. He had real natural ability and the kind of self-belief so important to progressing as a swimmer. He’s always been really focused, and hard-working. He had it all.”

The last word goes to Scott. “I’m knackered now. It’ll be nice to have wee lie down.”