LOOK how they’ve grown… into Olympic heroes!
After a picture emerged of cycling star Callum Skinner – the first Scot to pick up gold in Rio – as a youngster training with Sir Chris Hoy in Edinburgh, we look at other Olympic stars in the early stages of their quests for glory.
Andy Murray
Defending Olympic champion Andy, 29, from Dunblane, began playing tennis aged three – coached by mum Judy – and played his debut competitive tournament aged just five.
Greg Rutherford
Long jump champion Greg Rutherford’s picture comes straight from the family album. The Olympic gold medallist, 29, posted the photo online after pinching it from his sister Natalie’s Facebook page.
Lynsey Sharp
Running sensation Lynsey was always determined to win – as this steely picture shows. The Dumfries-born 800-metre competitor, 26, has twice broken the two-minute barrier this year.
Mo Farah
Distance runner Mo’s old PE teacher certainly saw his potential – even lending the schoolboy his own running shoes because he didn’t have any. Alan Wilkinson took Mo – pictured here aged 11 – under his wing after the youngster fled to Britain from Somalia with his family.
Jessica Ennis-Hill
Heptathlete Jessica poses for the camera as a slight four-year-old girl in her garden in Yorkshire. In her autobiography she revealed she was bullied for being the smallest in her class at school in Sheffield.
Michael Phelps
This weedy youngster grew into the most decorated Olympian of all time. Swimming legend Michael Phelps, 31, looks daunted on the side of a pool in his native US. He has now won 27 Olympic medals.
Usain Bolt
Sprinter Usain Bolt was already taking the world by storm back in 2003. Here he’s pictured after becoming the youngest athlete ever to win gold at the World Junior Championship, aged just 15.
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