Robert Heffernan was 4th in both the 20k race walk and 50k race walk in 2010 in the European Championships. In 2011, Ireland’s best race walker flew home from Daegu, when his mother was tragically injured, missing his 50k event. In 2012, Robert Heffernan finished fourth in the 50k race walk. A popular athletics columnist gave Ireland’s best the moniker, “Mister Fourth Place”.
In Moscow, Robert Heffernan battled both the Russians and the elements to give Ireland not only it’s first medal in the 50,000 meter Race Walk, but also, its’ first gold medal outside of the 5,000 meters (Eamon Coglan in 1983, and Sonia O’Sullivan in 1995).
Robert Heffernan, a good natured man if there ever was one, toured the streets of Moscow in heat and humidity for 31.06 miles to take the gold medal.
For his feat of strength and endurance, a medal that made all of Ireland proud, The Shoe Addicts salute Robert Heffernan’s victory over the longest event in the World Championships schedule, as the Day Five Event of the Day!
Day 5 of our IAAF Moscow 2013 World Championships series looks at the 50km Race walker Gold medalist, Ireland’s Robert Heffernan. Rob won in a world leading time of 3:37:56.