Adam Peaty enjoyed an almost perfect 2015 season but with his similarly high-achieving team-mates spurring him on, the double Commonwealth Games gold medallist is adamant next year can be even better.
Peaty won three gold medals at the 2015 World Championships in Kazan over the summer by triumphing in the 50m breaststroke, 100m breaststroke and the 4x100m mixed medley.
He also now holds the world record for all three events, meaning he is a red-hot favourite for every race he enters just a year out from the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio.
But the 20-year-old was far from the only English athlete to find success last year with James Guy walking away from the World Championships with two gold medals, in the 200m freestyle and 4x200m freestyle.
And Peaty claims that seeing his team-mates hit the heights actually makes him swim better.
“It was great to have that sort of catalyst going on throughout the team,” said Peaty. “Jimmy swims well, I swim well and it kind of went through the whole team.
“I saw Jimmy winning the 200m free and it spurred me on even more to go and get a world record.
“That success shows what it’s like to be in Great Britain, it’s great to see other people doing well.
“It’s great for someone to get on the world stage and perform, so hopefully when Rio comes around the corner it’s going to be exactly like that. Hopefully we can bring home some gold for England for GB.”
Peaty is now in winter training, which by his own admission involves getting up at 4am and being in bed by 7pm, as he tries to make improvements ahead of 2016.
The Uttoxeter-born swimmer claims he is relishing the challenge as he gears up for what will be his first Olympic Games.
And while he is now the fastest man in history over two distances, Peaty insists he is not one to dwell on his accomplishments, preferring to look to the future.
“I don’t really think about it [being the fastest man in history] too much but it has sunk in a little bit,” he added.
“The three weeks rest I just had helped it sink in but now it’s not about last season, it’s all about next season.
“I can’t wait. People won’t see me for a while now because I’ll be so tired but that’s what it’s going to take – up at 4am and in bed by 7pm.
“That’s going to be the new cycle, too tired to do anything, but I can’t wait for that – I’m greeting it with open arms.”
© Sportsbeat 2015