‘Couldn’t have happened to a better person’
You have to go right back to Eamon Coghlan in 1983 in Helsinki to find the last Irishman to win a gold medal at a World Championships.
One of his first coaches from Togher Athletic Club, John D Hayes, remembered Rob as a 12-year-old setting off on his athletic journey with Togher AC.
“I just can’t believe it. He planned the race out and it worked perfectly. I remember him coming down at 12 years old and sure he only lives around the corner. Br Sweeney in Coláiste Chríost Rí started him out walking in school but he was a good runner. He ran 31 minutes for a 10km he was 18 and he got serious really from about 17 on,” he said.
Mr Hayes said hundreds of people have helped Rob since he started out and that the Togher man has never forgotten any of the people that helped him on the way.
“Genuinely, it couldn’t have happened to a better person. I’m just off the phone from him and he rang me himself, after winning a World Championship. That’s just the type of guy he is. He remembers all the people who have helped out on the way, with gear and with an extra pair of runners. That’s just Robert.”
Guidance counsellor at Rob’s secondary school, Coláiste Chríost Rí, Frank Mulvihill, remembered a small, skinny boy “oozing with natural talent”. He also pointed out that Rob was now the second world champion the school had produced.
Another former pupil, Marcus O’Sullivan, won three gold medals at the World Indoor Championships in the late 1980s and early 1990s.
“Robert went through school and was never really any trouble. He reminded me very much of Marcus. He was a small, slight lad but oozing with natural talent. His promise really didn’t come to fruition until he was in his 20s and he’s finally got the rewards for all his work,” he said.
He also praised Rob as “a guy whose feet never left the ground”.
“Robert still comes into the school a lot now and helps out training lads. This guy is a professional athlete and his funding doesn’t cover a fraction of the work he has to put in,” he said.
“His fourth place in London got so many young lads into the sport. One of his protegés, Luke Hickey, did his Leaving Cert this year and he’s been to Junior World Championships.”
President Michael D Higgins was among those to congratulate Rob Heffernan following his gold medal win in Moscow.
“All of us will share in this wonderful moment for Rob and his family, whom I met at Áras an Uachtaráin last year. Rob came so close to success in the London Olympics and now, through hard work and dedication, he has achieved all that he deserves,” President Higgins said.
Meanwhile, team-mate Colin Griffin called Heffernan “an inspiration” in a message posted on Facebook.
“Delighted for my good friend, team-mate and training partner Rob Heffernan. This gold medal was a long time in the making after years of hard work, setbacks and near misses. Rob is an inspiration to any sportsperson as to how to have the right mindset and competitive qualities to be a champion. This is a day to be remembered!”
Many sporting personalities and supporters also took to Twitter to congratulate Heffernan.
Well done @RM_Heffernan World Champion, welcome to the Gold Medal Club . Well deserved & earned #whataneffort unfolded very well on twitter🍀
— sonia osullivan (@soniaagrith) August 14, 2013
Congrats to Rob Heffernan - thoroughly deserved - never seen an athlete work so hard !!
— Tomas Mulcahy (@tomas_mulcahy) August 14, 2013
How many fun runners can finish a marathon (42km) in 3hr 37min? Robert Heffernan race walked 50km in that time. Incredible.
— Jason Henderson (@Jason_AW) August 14, 2013
Well done @RM_Heffernan! Well deserved, enjoy every minute....I now have to go piss in a cup!!
— David Gillick (@DavidGillick) August 14, 2013
Congrats to @RM_Heffernan on his superb performance! Proud cork man has made everyone in ireland very proud! #gold
— Peter O'Mahony (@peterom6) August 14, 2013
Big congrads to @RM_Heffernan unbelievable achievement, making cork people very #proud #legend #worldchamp
— Ciaran Sheehan (@Gussyman90) August 14, 2013
No one deserves a gold medal like @RM_Heffernan . Role model and showing how Ireland can be the best!!
— Natalya Coyle (@Natalyacoyle) August 14, 2013
Congratulations to @RM_Heffernan outstanding achievement well done.
— Alan Quinlan (@AlanQuinlan1) August 14, 2013
Fair play Rob Heffernan,world champion!
— jamie heaslip (@jamieheaslip) August 14, 2013
I can't get through my messages quick enough. Thank you so much for your support . I'm a Very proud IRISHMAN right now. #worldchampion
— Rob Heffernan OLY (@RM_Heffernan) August 14, 2013
Today has been an incredibly strange day, feels like a dream. Hard to comprehend the magnitude of what the man from Togher has just done....
— Steve Macklin (@coach_SM) August 14, 2013
..... phone has been hopping, reporters show up at the junior athletes training session , Mr Hayes on today fm, Bobser on RTE news. Crazy!!!
— Steve Macklin (@coach_SM) August 14, 2013
- Compiled by Denise O’Donoghue
