"To Mr Laing, everyone was a champion as soon as you started swimming. He always found time to chat and pass on information about anything. My brothers swam just as long as I did under him. My dad coached with him for years and my mum always saw him in a hurry at the airport, getting to the pool and around town, but he always asked how she was. On behalf of them, I thank Mr Laing and his family for being there. To my mate, my friend and my coach, thanks."
- Rob Waide (Gold Coast, Australia).
"He was a person you could always feel relaxed with. No matter where he was in the world, he could strike up a conversation.
- Double Olympic gold medallist Danyon Loader.
"I would like to offer my sympathies to Duncan Laing's family. He was a great man and I am honoured to have known him and to have been coached by him. RIP Duncan."
- Andrew Price (Gloucester, England).
"Duncan was continually giving in all aspects of his life and never asked for anything in return. He was generous with time and his expertise. And he was humble, very warm and very humorous."
- Former Sport Otago chief executive Paul Allison.
"Swimming World sends its condolences to the Swimming New Zealand community as it mourns the loss of Laing."
- Message from leading magazine Swimming World.
"The honours he received couldn't have gone to a more deserving and humble man. The pinnacle, of course, was Duncan and Danyon's gold medals. What a fabulous achievement. None of this could have been possible without a good woman and Mrs Laing must take credit for supporting him throughout his life. We feel privileged to have shared in a little of his life. The world will be a poorer place without him."
- Nana, of Green Island.
"What a loss to Otago and New Zealand. Duncan was a very decent man who devoted his life to helping people achieve their aims in sport. We will all miss him.
- Barry Brockbank (Townsville, Australia).
"The biggest thing that made Duncan special was his passion for swimming. It didn't matter whether you were the world's best or the worst, he would always take the time to show you how he could help. It was never about money or status with him. He had a gift and he wanted to share it with everybody."
- Dunedin City Council aquatic services manager Steve Prescott.
"He is really the reason I'm a swim coach. Everybody thinks about his impact on swimmers but, of course, he had a huge impact on coaches. He was the sort of guy you could always approach with a question about coaching."
- Otago swimming coach Andy Adair.
"The swimming world has lost a fine mind, a keen eye; an experienced man whose understanding of his sport, whose humour, whose smile and spirit will be very much missed."
- Craig Lord, of SwimNews.com.
"Duncan Laing is one of the greatest people you could ever meet. It is truly a sad day as we lose one of the greats in the swimming coaching world. Mr Laing was truly a legend."
- Former Zenith club coach Neil McCulloch.
