British athletes have shown they are an “extraordinary generation” by winning a record 24 medals at the Youth Olympics in China, says Lord Coe.
The British Olympic Association chairman hopes some of them will enjoy senior success at the Olympics in 2016.
Taekwondo’s Jade Jones and gymnast Sam Oldham, external followed up gold at the 2010 Games with medals at London 2012.
“There is no reason why some of these athletes should not be there or thereabouts come Rio,” said Coe.
“There is an extraordinary generation of young talent coming through and we saw from the 2010 Youth Olympics in Singapore that there is a pathway from youth to senior Olympics that for some is only a small journey.”
The 2014 squad of 32 athletes won seven golds, six silvers and 11 bronze medals, which is an impressive haul given the 39-strong 2010 line-up claimed 13 medals.
Giarnni Regini-Moran, a 15-year-old gymnast, was one of Team GB’s stand-out performers in Nanjing with three gold and two bronze medals.
“This experience has given me so much confidence,” he told BBC Sport.
“I’ve shown that I can perform on this stage, that’s something I want to keep doing in the future and compete at a senior Olympics.”
