HE has competed around the world as one of Glasgow’s top Paralympic athletes.

But now swimmer Andrew Mullen has returned to his home city - and is gearing up for gold at Tokyo 2020.

Having recently joined City of Glasgow Swim Team, Andrew is using the support of his close-knit circle of friends to spur him on to increase his medal tally.

The 20-year-old brought home one silver and two bronze from Rio as well as getting four personal bests in five races.

He was hoping for gold and five best times - but is satisfied with his results.

Andrew, from Newton Mearns, said: “My mantra going to Rio was ‘leave no stone unturned’ and I’m satisfied I achieved that.

“Looking back on it, a Paralympics is always quite a weird experience. It was 10 days of being on a tight schedule and surrounded by thousands of athletes and it flew past. You train for years for these 10 days.”

After Rio, Andrew took 12 weeks off to take stock and evaluate what was important to him.

The answer was family and friends - so he returned to Glasgow.

Andrew now swims six days a week at Tollcross International Swimming Centre with the City of Glasgow Swim Team and is supported by the Scottish Institute of Sport.

Andrew says he started swimming when he was about six or seven as his mum thought being able to swim was an important life skill.

Sport-loving Andrew became completely hooked - and says everything snowballed from there.

“It was definitely a snowball effect. I just seemed to have a knack for it and I progressed from the low levels of swimming clubs to becoming a Paralympian.

“It certainly escalated quite fast.

“I love sports and am a massive fan of football but it’s not really that accessible but when I started swimming it felt like an even playing field.

“As I started competing and racing I found I liked the pressure of working for four years then the whole four years being defined in a few moments.

“I love getting off the block and racing the hardest I can. I find it exhilarating.

Andrew spent 18 months in the National Performance Centre in Manchester preparing for the 2016 Rio Paralympic Games.

The intense experience saw swimmers live on site with their coaches and receive support from nutritionists and physiotherapists, among others.

While Andrew says the experience really raised his game, he missed his social life, family and friends.

He said: “Manchester was definitely an experience and definitely different from a regular club programme and I’m grateful I had the chance to experience what that was like.

“There were no distractions: it was just swimming, swimming, swimming and it taught me a lot.

“When you have a Paralympics coming up you have to fully commit and push yourself.”

The former Mearns Castle High School pupil has an extremely close group of school friends who he says are incredibly supportive of him.

One even worked hours of overtime to save up and see him swim in Rio.

He added: “When I reflected on what I wanted, it was to be back with my family and friends.

“They help give me a bit of head space outside of swimming but they know that when I’m in what I call ‘race mode’ I can’t be having late nights - so they organise nights out around me.

“I couldn’t do it without them. They are pretty selfless.

“I’ve brought everything I learned in Manchester back home with me - and it is really good to be home.”