The best laid plans of mice and men oft go awry. Robert Heffernan had only one plan in the 50km race walk on the streets of Zurich yesterday: to win gold.

World champion Rob Heffernan succumbed with 10 kilometres remaining of the men’s 50k walk at the European Athletics Championships in Zurich this morning.

Robert Heffernan will face a stiff challenge to win the European 50km race walk title on the streets of Zurich this morning but his wife and coach, Marian, believes he’s in as good a shape as ever.

Rob Heffernan has joined the list of Irish sporting greats by claiming Ireland’s third ever gold medal at a World Athletics Championships, becoming only the fifth person in all to medal, by winning the men’s 50k walk in Moscow this morning.

Rob Heffernan has claimed Ireland's third ever gold medal at a World Athletics Championship, winning the men's 50k walk in Moscow this morning.