THE smallest of margins made the difference between a podium finish and a seventh Olympic medal for Wee County swimmer Duncan Scott.

It was not to be as Duncan, who grew up in Alloa, finished fourth in the men’s 200m freestyle final in Paris on Monday, July 29.

The University of Stirling swimming star touched the wall in a time of 1:44.87, just 0.08 seconds behind Luke Hobson from the USA.

The silver medal was scooped by Team GB mate Matthew Richards while Romania’s David Popovici, the current world and European champion, took the spot on the top of the podium.

Speaking to BBC Sport Scotland after the final, Duncan said: “Fourth is a horrible place to come.

“Several hundredths of a second away from winning a medal, or even better.

"I was buzzing going into that and had really good fun in there.

“Looking back, I maybe should have pushed it on a bit earlier.

"It was really tight and came down to the finish but I didn't quite have it today."

With Popovici finishing in a time of 1:44.72, it was a tight race at Paris La Defense Arena with the top four home within just two tenths of a second.

It means 27-year-old Duncan was denied a dream seventh Olympic medal by the tiniest of margins.

The 4x100m freestyle relay on Saturday has been another chance at a medal when the Alloa swimmer teamed up with Richards, Jacob Whittle and Tom Dean to come fifth in the finals.

However, there was still hope for that seventh medal this week as Duncan competes in the 4x200m freestyle relay and the 200m medley.