‘When you won all of us won,’ world champ Heffernan hears at reception

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

This summer he lit up the Irish athletics scene by winning gold in the 50km walk at the world championships in a discipline the host country of Russia would have been expected to dominated.

He is now back in training, with the Rio Olympics in his sights, but at the behest of Cork City Council he was able to round off his year by slowing the pace and watching others let their hair down in his honour.

In recognition of his feat, the council decided to bestow on him its second highest honour, a civic reception.

Heffernan, who was accompanied by his children and wife and manager Marian, said he is proud to hail from Cork and it meant a lot to him that it hosted such an event.

“I don’t take these things for granted... it is a major honour for me to be able to see the joy and happiness that the win has brought to people in Cork,” he said.

“I will never forget the night I came back from Moscow. It was a very, very special night.”

In a warm speech, Lord Mayor Catherine Clancy said a tangible testament to his impact was that neighbourhood rivalries were set aside as soon as he crossed the line in Moscow. As people listened to the radio commentary, she said, Togher, Ballyphehane, and Turners Cross were ready to claim him as their own.

“There was a feeling that when you won all of us won,” she said.

She said the win had taken the city by surprise, despite near misses at past championships and Olympics, but the goodwill for a local hero saw a homecoming celebration organised and cleared within four hours. She said it seemed Soho Bar proprietor Sean McCarthy, had a platform to host the event within minutes of being asked to help.

The lord mayor said Heffernan was a tribute to those who helped him build his career, such as Togher Athletic Club, Cork ETB, and especially his wife Marian and their family.