Furniss focussed on repeating 2014 form next year

There was plenty for Furniss and co to shout about this year with home nations swimmers winning a combined total of 45 medals at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.

And the following month a Great Britain team secured a record haul of 24 medals from the European Championships in Berlin.

Furniss is keen to keep his swimmers' feet on the ground ahead of next year's World Championships in Kazan, although he does believe his troops are set to make a splash after a fine 2014.

"The pleasing thing in 2014 is that our swimmers were a lot more resilient," said Furniss.

"We won a lot of medals in the last 30 metres, whereas previously we had been losing a lot there, and the fact they could bounce from one of the best-ever Commonwealth Games to have our best-ever European Championships just three weeks later is a good indicator we have made a step in the right direction.

"It is encouraging, but the big question is - can we produce those sorts of performances at next year's World Championships (in Kazan)?

"If you ask me next year whether we are ahead or behind schedule (for Rio), I could probably answer it.

"We still have a lot of work to do to produce at the next level - either at a World Championships or an Olympics.

"If you look at the last cycle, we had pretty good Commonwealths and Europeans, albeit not as good, but the bottom line is that when we got to the Olympics, we didn't produce that form.

"What I want to do is next year is look at Kazan, and if we have success there, then I'll think we are in a good place."

� Sportsbeat 2014