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".
Listen to highlights fromLincolnshire on BBC Sounds, watch thelatest episode of Look North.
Download the BBC News app from the App Storefor iPhone and iPad orGoogle Play for Android devices
- 'Glam helps mentality' says sprinter Amy Hunt, but can it give you that winning edge?
- 'Sensational' Hunt's historic European Championships
- 'Are you not entertained?' - Hunt enters stardom with iconic quadruple