Perth swimmer Duncan Scott admitted to feeling the effects of a long season after narrowly missing out on a medal at the Youth Olympic Games in Bejing.
After helping Team GB’s mixed 4x100m freestyle team finish sixth on Sunday, Scott, 17, was back in the Nanjing water 24 hours later.
Scott’s impressive performance wasn’t quite enough to see him climb the podium, as the Strathallan School pupil finished fourth, just 0.82 seconds off bronze.
And in a season that has already seen him win Commonwealth Games 4x200m freestyle silver, Scott insists that he can feel everything starting to catch up with him.
“I have mixed emotions about that final and I don’t really know how to feel to be honest,” he said.
“I tried a different tactic and went out there a bit harder but it just didn’t quite work out.
“But you know what, it has been a long season and that is the second fastest I have been all season from a standing start so I am happy with that.
“However, I should be going faster than that because I was about two and a bit seconds faster than that at the Commonwealth Games in the relay.
“But I am happy with fourth, it is a good finish even though I wanted a medal.”
Scott was busy on day two in Nanjing as he also swam in the men’s 200m individual medley, although his time of 2:04.98 minutes wasn’t enough for a final berth.
And despite feeling the fatigue his Chinese adventure is far from being finished with two relays and Thursday’s 100m freestyle heats still to come.
“The medley was hard, really hard,” Scott added.
“These guys swim fast in the heats as well and all the British swimmers are struggling at the moment.
“I managed to just squeeze in to the 200m freestyle final and hopefully I can improve for the 100m.”