Chad Johnson -- Olympic Gold Medal Sprinter Thinks My Daughter Is a Prodigy

Chad Johnson's daughter Cha'iel caught the eye of Olympic great Sanya Richards-Ross when she destroyed the competition at the AAU Jr Olympics.

Sanya -- who won FOUR gold medals from '04 to '12 -- tells TMZ Sports she thinks Chad's little girl is on track for a bright future in the event she used to dominate ... 400 meters.

SRR was really impressed after watching Cha'iel crush it in the 800 meters … an event she says most sprinters fear -- telling us, "There is no doubt Cha'iel can make it at the elite level, she is a prodigy."

Before you size Cha'iel for Olympic gold ... keep in mind, she's only 10. Sanya's best advice is just have fun for now -- and if she wants to reach the next level ... starting focusing full time on training by 16.

If you're counting -- like Chad is -- the 2024 Olympic games would be Cha'iel's first real shot.