The coach who first spotted Jessica Ennis's talent when she was 10 years old says she "stood out a mile" even at that early stage.

Mick Thompson said: "When she was about 10 years old she came down here for a summer camp and I was working as a coach at the stadium. So I was the first person who met her as a little athlete.

"I coached her for a couple of months after that and then moved her on to someone who is far more knowledgeable.

"She stood out a mile.

jessica ennis

Jessica Ennis takes a throw in the javelin heptathlon during the athletics in the Olympic Stadium


"She was clearly a brilliant hurdler and a very good high jumper straightaway, you could see that, without any input from us all."

Mr Thompson said: "I've kept in touch and just seen her get better and better."

He said he is extremely proud of everything she has achieved.

"She's probably one of most talented youngsters I've ever seen," he said.

"But at that age you don't know whether somebody's going to stick with it or not. Clearly she has and it's brilliant."

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  • London Olympic Games - Day 6

    Great Britain's Gemma Gibbons celebrates beating Netherlands' Marhinde Verkerk in round of quarter final match in the -78kg category at the ExCel Arena, London.

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  • Italy's Daniele Molmenti celebrates as he crosses the finish line in the final of the K-1 men's kayak slalom at Lee Valley Whitewater Center, at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Wednesday, Aug. 1, 2012, in Waltham Cross near London. Daniele Molmenti won the gold medal in the event. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)

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