World champion walker Rob Heffernan has been celebrated in his home town for defying the odds and beating the Russians in their own backyard.

Coaches and teachers who have helped Rob Heffernan since he was a boy paid tribute to an athlete who started out in Togher and went all the way to the top of the world.

DERVAL O’ROURKE will be back on one of her old stomping grounds on Sunday when she lines up for the 100m at the Leevale Open Sports at the Cork IT complex in Bishopstown.