Rob Heffernan retains Euro medal ambitions

It’s best not to call it a comeback, for Rob Heffernan never really left, but despite the ravages of time clearly taking a toll, the 39-year-old hasn’t shut the door on his career just yet.

Yesterday afternoon, Heffernan was crowned athlete of the year at the Irish Life Health National Athletics Awards, and though he will be dancing to a very different rhythm than race walking in the coming months, he revealed he is still eyeing a tilt at next summer’s European Championships.

“I’m 39 but I’m still up there and I feel if I can stay injury-free and motivated that I can still win a medal,” he said. “It’s been a hard few years, emotionally and physically, and I need to see how I feel, go to altitude in April and see how things are.”