Racewalking to victory - A proud champion

For a small country, Ireland has an outstanding record in the fiercely competitive world of athletics, a reputation now stunningly embellished by the Cork City racewalker Rob Heffernan.

Setting a course which every young person could follow, he made sporting history yesterday by winning the gold medal in the 50km walk at the World Championships in Moscow.

Fulfilling the dream of a lifetime, he now joins the elite company of runners Sonia O’Sullivan and senator Eamonn Coughlan, Ireland’s other world champions. As with our golden Olympic boxers and runners, it has not come easy for the new champion, whose victory came after 11 years’ hard work without a medal.

So motivated was he that for months he slept in a special tent to create high altitude conditions at the family’s suburban house in Togher. He is justly a proud champion of the world.