Heffernan to double up in London

Robert Heffernan was impressed when the main group of Irish athletes arrived at the Irish holding camp in Lensbury, Teddington, yesterday to put the finishing touches to their Olympic build-up.

Heffernan, who has unbelievable respect from his peers around the Olympic Village, has been down this way previously. But if he can improve in his showing at the European Championships in Barcelona two years ago when he finished fourth in the 20k walk and, a couple of days later, finished fourth on what was only his second ever trip over 50k this visit could earn him a medal.

Those performances set him thinking about a double up at London 2012 and, while he has been training specifically for the longer distance his coach, Liam O’Reilly, confirmed yesterday he will definitely compete in both at London.