THERE was another award for Duncan Scott’s groaning mantlepiece yesterday when the 21-year-old Scottish swimming sensation was presented with the inaugural athlete of the year prize at the National Lottery awards. But this one seemed particularly appropriate considering he is still thanking his lucky stars that a freak fall off the pavement in Stirling didn’t result in the unluckiest of breaks and stop his dream year in its tracks.

Up in accident and emergency a couple of weeks back with a badly swollen ankle, Scott simply had his fingers crossed he hadn’t sustained any irreversible damage which might adversely affect his chances in next year’s world championships and the Olympics in Tokyo in 2020. While it was challenging enough that his specialist should inform him that he had ruptured two ligaments in the tumble, the good news was that no surgery was required, just a spell of rehab in a protective boot then some strengthening work. All in all, considering one of his fellow nominees Katie Archibald tore a cruciate ligament and fractured an elbow in a motorbike crash some eight months out from the Rio Olympics and still came back with a gold medal, hopefully escaping with this prognosis is like winning the lottery.

“I was in Stirling walking back home, and I kind of fell off the pavement and rolled the outside of my ankle,” said Scott. “I was thinking ‘I actually can’t walk here, oh my God’. But my mate was with me and he said ‘och, just walk it off’. So I got some ice on it and thought it wouldn’t be that bad a couple of hours later. But it was massive. So I had to message my coach [Steven Tigg] and with it being at Stirling, we’ve got the Institute of Sport right at our fingertips so obviously I was really fortunate I was able to go to A&E straight away. The first thing was ‘is it broken?’, no, so tick that box.

“Then it was get a scan to see what has happened with the ligaments,” he added. “Within two days I was seeing a specialist. No surgery is required, just rehab really, and obviously I am really fortunate to have the physio at Stirling on hand and they have contacted the British swimming doctor. He is called Guy Evans, he also works for Bath Rugby, so he sees people do this week in week out. I have the best of care. I just don’t want to rush things. It happened just two or three days before I was due to get back into the pool which was a bit annoying. I’m just doing the arms in the pool right now, no leg movements.”

While he should return to swimming whilst on an altitude camp in Flagstaff, Arizona, next month, and could be back competing at pretty much full gas for the Scottish short course championships in December at the latest, it is typical Scott to accentuate the positive. “He [Tigg] was alright about it,” said Scott. “Accidents happen I guess and it could have happened at a worse time. In some ways, we are trying to look at the positives. I am usually quite weak lower body, single leg squats, stability wise, so that is an area I can now totally focus on because we will need to build the leg up anyway. I am sure it is all going to be fine.”

As for the latest award - presented at a glitzy ceremony attended by Michael Sheen, Louis Theroux and Katherine Jenkins, to be broadcast on Wednesday - it was thoroughly deserved for his six-medal haul from the Commonwealths and another four (three golds and one silver) from his home Europeans. While Scott is delighted to add it to other accolades like being named flagbearer for the Gold Coast closing ceremony and the Lonsdale Trophy (plus Emirates Airline vouchers) for Team Scotland athlete of the year, this one might just be extra special because it comes with a £5,000 gift for a charity of his choice. Scott has nominated ELLA, the Edinburgh Limb Loss Association to be the recipients.“Winning awards is not why I do what I do,” he said. “But it was lovely that I have been nominated and to get the public vote is great. All of this only happens for about three weeks and then you go back to the start and do it all again.”