Thursday, October 29, 2015 Racing lays foundation for swimming’s 2016 Olympic ambition Athletes are currently undergoing a hard block of work to lay the foundations on which they can build their performances for 2016. “The World Championship results are history now - we have to move forward and continue towards the next challenge ahead to make sure we are at our very best next summer.” Bill Furniss, Head Coach British Swimming British Swimming may have earned unparalleled success at this year’s World Championships but for Head Coach Bill Furniss the results are now simply a part of history as the nation’s elite continue to work towards the goal of the Rio 2016 Olympics. The British team emerged from the World Championships in Kazan with renewed pride and reinforced belief following a finest ever performance borne out of a considerable shift in culture. The team won a record number of world championship medals with nine – a number which also featured no fewer than 12 gold medallists across the events – to place fourth on the medals table. “We have achieved great things in 2015 but we’re not taking anything for granted,” said Furniss. “The World Championship results are history now - we have to move forward and continue towards the next challenge ahead to make sure we are at our very best next summer.” Athletes are currently undergoing a hard block of work to lay the foundations on which they can build their performances for 2016 and, over the next two months, they will combine this with race preparation and process practice across a number of events. “It’s an important year ahead with an Olympics as the focus so this period of preparation is vital in ensuring the athlete prepares well and prepares thoroughly. Collectively as a group we need to go into 2016 doing everything a little better than we did this year,” said Furniss. “The events over the next two months are the first batch of competitions of the Olympic year and provide a first outing for our athletes. It’s not something they will be fully focused on but these events allow us to familiarise ourselves with and practice once again the processes we need to make sure we’re ready for next summer.” The winter events begin next week when 22 athletes across both Podium and Podium Potential programmes travel to the FINA World Cups in Doha (2-3 Nov) and Dubai (6-7 Nov). A further squad of 12 athletes will compete at the LEN European Short Course Championships in Israel (2-6 Dec) and a small group of seven will take part in this year’s U.S. edition of the Duel in the Pool which takes part in Indianapolis (11-12 Dec). The Amsterdam Cup (11-13 Dec) will be attended by a group of seven while athletes also have the chance to compete at the Scottish and English short course championships in December. “Together these events provide a batch of solid competitions and one of our big focuses over the past two years has been to encourage athletes to compete more often to practice their racing preparation and skills,” said Furniss. “We will also be taking a group of athletes to Rio next month for a camp where they can familiarise themselves with the culture and climate ahead of the Games. “We know we have to move it forward again next year. We had a good World Championships in 2015 but we also know our level of performance has to improve again because Rio will be a sterner test.” Athletes set to compete at the FINA World Cups in Doha (2-3 Nov) and Dubai (6-7 Nov) are: Craig Benson Emma Cain Luke Greenbank Jazmin Carlin James Guy Georgia Coates Calum Jarvis Harrier Cooper Cameron Kurle Jemma Lowe Stephen Milne Katie Matts Ross Murdoch Rosie Rudin Adam Peaty Sarah Vasey Robbie Renwick Aimee Willmott Duncan Scott Abbie Wood Liam Tancock Andrew Willis Athletes set to compete at the LEN European Short Course Championships (2-6 Dec) are: Luke Greenbank Jazz Carlin Roberto Pavoni Georgia Coates Adam Peaty Fran Halsall Robbie Renwick Hannah Miley Liam Tancock Siobhan-Marie O’Connor Chris Walker Hebborn Andrew Willis Athletes set to compete at the Duel in the Pool (11-12 Dec) are: James Guy Jazmin Carlin Daniel Wallace Hannah Miley Andrew Willis Siobhan-Marie O’Connor Lauren Quigley Athletes set to compete at the Amsterdam Cup (11-13 Dec) are: Jack Burnell Alice Dearing Daniel Fogg Charlotte Evans Caleb Hughes Molly Renshaw Roberto Pavoni Article courtesy of British Swimming