Bill Furniss: Competition now is all about the 2016 Rio Olympics

There was a time when the national championships was the one real opportunity for British swimmers to finish on top of the podium.

But now the annual event, which began today in Glasgow, is a chance for Britain’s new breed of swimmers to qualify for the Olympic Games and test where they are — time-wise, at least — on the world stage.

British Swimming head coach Bill Furniss, who guided Rebecca Adlington to her four Olympic medals, highlighted that fact by describing the championships, which run until Sunday, as “simply a means to an end”.

He said: “They are just the next phase of a long and detailed preparation to perform on the day in Rio. And after Glasgow we need to refocus on Rio — that’s where the competition will be fought and not before.”

Britain has two individual world champions in Adam Peaty and James Guy. Peaty, just 21, achieved the feat in both the 50m and 100m breaststroke, while Guy — a year younger — did so in the 200m freestyle.

Guy admitted: “What happened at the World Championships in Kazan is still in my mind but I have to move on because these trials are the most important thing.”

Both men are part of a new breed in British swimming, both seemingly mature beyond their years, notably Peaty, who has aired strong views about drugs cheats in the sport.

Peaty believes he will need to swim quicker than any man has ever swum before to win 100m gold — the 50m is not an Olympic event — in Rio. “I do think it will take a world record and that would send out a real message,” said Peaty (above), who is ranked No1 in the world this year over the longer distance and fourth over 50m.

But the strength is not just in the men’s team, with Fran Halsall ranked second this year for both the 50m freestyle and butterfly, and determined to win a medal at what would be her third Olympics.

Jazz Carlin, a bronze medallist at the worlds, is eyeing her first Olympics, having not recovered in time from illness to qualify for London 2012, while training partner Siobhan-Marie O’Connor is another in-form world medallist.

But, for Furniss, it is all about Rio. He said: “We want our athletes this week to experience pressure, handle pressure and welcome pressure.”