RECORD-breaking Team Scotland swimmer Duncan Scott went back to where it all began last week following his glorious return from the Commonwealth Games.

The 20-year-old came back from the Gold Coast with six gold medals - the most by a Scottish athlete in a single Games.

And he made a special visit to Troon Swimming Pool, where he learned to swim as a young boy to promote the Learn To Swim initiative.

Duncan, now based in Stirling, said: “I lived in the Kilmaurs and Kilmarnock area and learned to swim at Troon as it was a really good facility. When I was six I attended a summer camp at the Troon pool. It’s good being back - the swimming pool is identical to how it was then - I was last here when I was aged seven.

"I had good coaches in Mike Boles and Maria Hughes and they taught me well and played a large part in helping me. My earliest memory is of my dad teaching my sister and I how to float on our backs. Their main motive was to make swimming enjoyable. I have always had a competitive instinct but I have always liked the social aspect within swimming.”

Mike said: “I always tell the development squad swimmers that anything is possible and when you look at Duncan Scott, he started as a member of that group. When he first came in we got him straight into the Mini League. I feel quite proud he has done well. We have swimmers in the swim team who could go as far as Duncan if they chose to do that.”

Maria added: “Duncan is a good ambassador to swimming and is really keen to see other swimmers progressing as he has.”

South Ayrshire Council are one of 22 local authorities/leisure trusts, who have signed up to Scottish Swimming’s National Framework for Learn to Swim in partnership with Scottish Water. The idea behind this national Learn to Swim Programme is to focus on quality environments that provide safe, fun and challenging experiences to help children become competent and confident swimmers.”

Alistair Mutch of South Ayrshire Council said: “In South Ayrshire we deliver the National Learn to Swim programme as well as school swimming lessons and have seen a 30 per cent growth in the programme in the last year. We also have an excellent provision for children with a disability, both in mainstream programmes for Learn to Swim and Club swimming and bespoke provision when required.”