Gold for Ireland’s Rob Heffernan

Thirty years ago to the day 14th August, 1983 in Helsinki Eamon Coughlan won Ireland’s first ever world championship outdoor gold medal the other was Sonia O’Sullivan on 12th August, 1995 in Gothenburg. Robert Heffernan the 35-year-old Togher AC athlete became Ireland’s 3rd ever world champion in Moscow last Wednesday morning in the 50k walk. A race he judged to perfection, the 50km walker made amends for all the disappointment he has had in his career when finishing 4th on a few occasions including European championships in Barcelona in 2010 when doubling up in the 20 and 50k finishing 4th in both. He also missed out on a medal in the London Olympics last Summer with another 4th placing. Well all things come to those who have the hunger as Sean Kelly says in his newly published autobiography, he finally got the medal which has narrowly escaped him for so long crossing the line in a time of 3.37.56 to rapturous acclaim from the small but vocal Irish support in the huge Luzhniki stadium making amends with a gold medal winning performance after a titanic battle with home hero Russia’s Mikhail Ryzhov who took silver with Heffernan having a 63 second cushion in the end. With Ryzhov clocking a time of 3:38:58 and Australian Jared Talent claimed bronze in 3:40:03. After a fast opening few kilometres from the Russian pair Ryzhov and Noskov along with Tallent who were in the lead at 10km, the trio led by almost 30 seconds before they were swallowed up by the pack which was being driven along by Heffernan, with the lead being shared among a group of 6 for much of the middle section. By the half-way mark Poland’s Sudol had opened up a narrow lead with Heffernan, Ryzhov and Noskov in close attendance. But soon afterwards it was to be a race between two between the Irishman and Russian Ryzhov with the others dropping back. There was an almighty battle between the two athletes between 30km and 40km, and it was obvious that gold was between these two who had opened up a substantial gap on the field, both shared the pacing, then Ryzhov made what appeared to be his big effort at 35km and suc- ceeded in putting some 10 metres between him and Heffernan. But the Irish walker had soon clawed his way back up and re-taken the lead when walking flawlessly Heffernan made the decisive move at 40k. Increasing the tempo even more and here he found the kink in the Russian’s armoury as he opened up a slight advantage and from here continued to pull away from his Russian rival crossing the line in a world lead time of 3.37.56. Indeed, Heffernan’s fastest 5km (21:18) of the race was between the 35km to 40km mark a pace not even the cream of Russian race walkers could handle. Australia’s two-time Olympic silver medallist Jared Tallant started a remarkable comeback having drifted back in 5th and 6th on occasion during the race to climb through the field into third but by the 45km mark, Heffernan at this stage was 18 seonds clear of the Russian with Tallant a further minute adrift. A delighted Heffernan commenting afterwards said: “That is brilliant. This victory is very important for me and for Ireland. I wanted to go to Russia and take on the Russians and that’s what I did. It was not until I got into the stadium that I could relax and enjoy it. I was fourth last year in London, but this year I was in even better condition and I was very well prepared for this race. I knew I could do better today, I believed I could be the winner.” “My wife is here with me and we are so happy! To win here is a dream come true. I loved the course and I really enjoyed the race. It was very tough but I tried to stay positive.” “Coming into the stadium I was watching myself on the big screen and thinking, ‘This fella looks good’.” Heffernan added: “It’s surreal, it’s just a great feeling. It’s hard to take it all in.” He was considered an Irish medal hope, although few would have pre- dicted a gold, “I was motivated,” Heffernan said. “People go on about medals, for the last 11 years I’ve been motivated and challenging for a medal. For some reason or other I hadn’t won one”. “I was prepared for everything coming into it. I stayed thoroughly motivated this year after London, when a lot of people take their foot off the gas. I was very conscious of training hard and I had to be more motivated because there was less hype for the world championships. I was prepared for that mentally.” Physically and mentally, I’ve never been better. Age is only a number. This will mean a lot to everyone back home. When I was going round I thought ‘the country needs a lift’. It’s massive exposure for the sport at home. When kids see this, they’ll want to walk.” Ireland’s latest world gold medalist arrived back into Dublin last Friday to much acclaim with his plans for the future firmly fixed on the Olympic Games of Rio De Janeiro in 3 years time. Irish team mate Brendan Boyce (Letterkenny AC) was also having the race of his life as he finished in 25th place in a new personal best of 3:54:24.