British sprint star Amy Hunt was "just meant to do what she does", one of her first running coaches has said.
The 24-year-old, who was a member of Grantham Athletic Club at the age of 12, won four gold medals at the European Athletics Championships in the women's 100m, 200m, 4x100m relay and the mixed 4x100m relay.
She is among the front-runners to be named BBC Sports Personality of the Year.
Ian Richards, who was Amy's first sprint coach at Grantham Athletic Club, said he felt "chuffed" to see what Amy was achieving.
Richards, 72 and now retired, said: "When I first saw her, she came down to do some middle-distance running.
"I looked at her and thought that's not a middle distance runner.
"I told her next time she comes on a Monday night to do some sprint work. She came along and, really, it was a duck to water."
Phil Garner, 65, chair of Grantham Athletic Club, said: "That professional attitude, that confidence and that ability is just stunning."
"For the youngsters, Amy is a new name and they're in awe to hear that she was running around here 10 years ago."
He said he was "screaming, shouting and clapping" at the TV when he watched Amy, who is from Newark, compete.
He added that, while the Covid-19 pandemic "was a real knock for athletics", the sport was "now picking up".
The 24-year-old, who was a member of Grantham Athletic Club at the age of 12, won four gold medals at the European Athletics Championships in the women's 100m, 200m, 4x100m relay and the mixed 4x100m relay.
She is among the front-runners to be named BBC Sports Personality of the Year.
Ian Richards, who was Amy's first sprint coach at Grantham Athletic Club, said he felt "chuffed" to see what Amy was achieving.
Richards, 72 and now retired, said: "When I first saw her, she came down to do some middle-distance running.
"I looked at her and thought that's not a middle distance runner.
"I told her next time she comes on a Monday night to do some sprint work. She came along and, really, it was a duck to water."
Phil Garner, 65, chair of Grantham Athletic Club, said: "That professional attitude, that confidence and that ability is just stunning."
"For the youngsters, Amy is a new name and they're in awe to hear that she was running around here 10 years ago."
He said he was "screaming, shouting and clapping" at the TV when he watched Amy, who is from Newark, compete.
He added that, while the Covid-19 pandemic "was a real knock for athletics", the sport was "now picking up".
Related Coverage
- BBCâChampagne and a KFCâ: how Hunt celebrated historic haul at European Championships â The Guardian
- Amy Hunt Wins Four European Gold Medals for Team GB â BBCEuropean Athletics Championships 2026: Amy Hunt and Dina Asher-Smith make history with relay gold
- BBCEuropean Athletics Championships 2026: Amy Hunt and Dina Asher-Smith make history with relay gold â BBCAmy Hunt: How British sprinter surpassed her own goal for gold with historic four-medal display at European Championships
- BBCAmy Hunt: How British sprinter surpassed her own goal for gold with historic four-medal display at European Championships â Sky Sports
