The 17-year-old high school student - who became the youngest world champion in indoor track and field history when he won the 800m at the world indoor championships in Poland in March – begged his family to let him play football when he was just 10 years old but eventually realised his sporting talents lay elsewhere.

He told The Guardian newspaper: “The only reason I got to play football early was because I begged. I had to convince my dad over and over every day: ‘Please let me play, please let me play.’

“I thought I was going to play football. [A Dallas Cowboys quarterback?] That’s exactly what I wanted to do.

“But after I ran 1:47 at 15 I thought, ‘Maybe not. Maybe I might be better at this. I have to hang up the helmet.’”

While Cooper has largely taken the jump to elite sport in his stride, one element that caused concern for himself and his family is the fact all athletes at his level need to make themselves available for one specified hour a day for drug testing, with the possibility of a two-year doping ban if they miss the window.

His dad George said: “When he ran 1:42, I was excited for about 30 seconds and then I realised: ‘He’s won a medal so he’s now in the testing pool.’ ”

Cooper added: “I had no idea what the testing pool was.

“I never knew whereabouts was a thing until one day I was sent a message saying: ‘Fill this out.’ It’s not the worst thing.

“But in high school, I’m going to hang out at someone’s house and it’s: ‘Hold on guys – what’s your address? How long we going to be here?’”