By CATRIONA STEWART

HE is one of Glasgow's top swimmers... but Jack McComish has a hidden disability that makes his success all the more impressive.

Jack has been profoundly deaf from birth and communicates using lip reading.

Now the 21-year-old has been selected as part of Team GB for the 2017 Deaflympics in Samsun, Turkey.

And he is hoping to top his previous Deaflympics success by bringing home a gold.

Jack said: "I competed at the Deaflympics in Sofia in 2012 and won two bronze medals.

"This time I hope to make the top three but ideally improve my times and win a gold.

"I know what the experience is like now and I know what challenges lie ahead for me, which will help me achieve my goals.

"There is a really good American swimmer who could get in my way but my experience will help me."

Jack was born deaf but had a cochlear implant fitted as a child and learned to lip read.

He started swimming at the age of 10 and it quickly became clear that he has a talent for the sport.

Jack, a Sports Development studies student at University of the West of Scotland, swims competitively in mainstream swimming and national competitions.

He joined the Scottish Disability Squad and the GB Deaf Swimming Club at the age of 14.

Jack, who lives near Tollcross Swimming Pool, where he trains with City of Glasgow Swim Team, has won medals at both the European and World Deaf Championships.

Ian Wright, head performance coach for City of Glasgow Swim Team, started working with Jack in September 2015 when he joined the team.

He said: "Jack is one of the top deaf swimmers in the world and in the top 10 in Britain.

"Currently, in breast stroke, he is in the top 25 in the UK for all ages and abilities and is improving all the time.

"We think he can do really well at the Deaflympics and look forward to seeing how he gets on."

In training, it can be quite tricky for Jack to lip read when a group is talking.

But Ian makes sure he knows exactly what is expected by writing things down and asking other swimmers to feedback information one-to-one.

At the beginning of races, Jack is unable to know when the starting pistol has fired.

Instead, the timing system will be fitted with a light, which he watches to alert him to when the race has begun.

At some pools where the system is less high-tech, a member of the group will hold Jack's calf and let go when it's time to start.

Jack, who specialises in breaststroke and competes in the 50m, 100m and 200m, added: "I don't feel any different from the rest of the group. I like to be part of it and I fit in really well.

"I don't think of myself as a disabled athlete."

This year's Deaflympics, which is affiliated with the Olympics, takes place in Samsun, Turkey.

Dozens of countries take part and all athletes are self-funded.

Michael Phelps is Jack's favourite swimmer.

He said: "Phelps has no limits and that's what I aspire to achieve.

"Swimming is part of my life. My family and friends are proud of what I've achieved and I want to keep working hard for them.

"I love to be in the water, I love the feel of the water. And in the water, everyone is deaf - everyone is the same."