Robert Heffernan

IRISH RACE WALKER

5 TIME OLYMPIAN

Deemed too small for his school’s Gaelic football team at the age of fourteen, Rob Heffernan took up race walking on a whim. Over the next twenty-four years, driven by a fiercely competitive nature and a dogged desire to be the best in the world, he strode his way to the pinnacle of the sport, becoming world champion of the 50km walk in Moscow in 2013 & Bronze medal in London 2012 Olympics. In 2016, he became the first athlete ever to represent Ireland at the Olympic Games for a fifth time.

Rob, from Togher in Cork city, says “Years of dedication, self-sacrifice and hard work might get you qualification for the Games, but even after that you still have to time everything right to be in the best form of your life on that one day that counts, the day of your race.” In a no-holds-barred account, Rob describes his battles with injury, depression and abject poverty on his way to the top. Even when at his best, he often found himself cheated out of medals by those who crossed the dark line into doping.

Rob has completed many key note addresses to Corporates, Retail & Financial Sector over the past couple of years including FBD, Bank of Ireland, Royal College of Surgeons, VHI, Voxpro, Aldi, MC2 Group, Teen Talks ( Mental Health organised by Event Plan), Sigmar Recruitment (Talent Summit).

His achievements include: 5 times Olympian, 2013 IAAF World 50km Race-walking Champion, 2012 London Olympic Games Bronze, 50km Race-walk, 2010 European 20km Bronze, Irish 10km, 20km & 50km National Record Holder, 29 Irish International Caps, 15 Indoor National Titles, 22 Irish Outdoor Titles (10km,20km & 30km) and Irish Athletics Team Captain Rio Olympic Games.

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ROBERT HEFFERNAN

IN THE MEDIA

Sport Ireland Olympic Home Tour
Former Team Ireland walker Rob Heffernan spoke to OTB’s Aisling O’Reilly as part of the Sport Ireland Olympic Home Tour to bring the families of current Team Ireland athletes together to support them while they are away in Tokyo. Rob Heffernan looks at the seemingly limitless amount of athletes coming out of Cork, most recently the sensational Skibbereen rowers.
ROBERT HEFFERNAN

IN THE MEDIA

It’s ‘business as usual’ for athletes, says Rob Heffernan despite Tokyo 2020 fears
Five-time Olympian Rob Heffernan remains fully confident that the Olympic Games will go ahead as planned this summer, despite fears that Covid-19 may halt the games for a second time. Organisers continue to insists that everything is on track for the Olympics to get underway on 23 July, despite increasing local concerns about such a large influx of athletes and officials. Tokyo remains under a state of emergency with rising coronavirus infection rates in the country, while there is strong opposition among the public to the Games.
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ROBERT HEFFERNAN

IN THE MEDIA

The son of Olympians Rob and Marian Heffernan on choosing soccer over athletics
CATHAL HEFFERNAN’S EXCITEMENT is palpable. It’s around 4pm. That morning, he found out he would captaining his country for the first time. He has been a regular part of an Ireland side that has a 100% record this season. They have played eight and won eight, with Heffernan an integral member of a backline that has conceded just four goals in that period. One of the standout wins was a 3-1 victory over England at St George’s Park last December.
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ROBERT HEFFERNAN

IN THE MEDIA

Rob Heffernan // World Egg Day 2021

ROBERT HEFFERNAN

IN THE MEDIA

Road to Rio // RTE2

ROBERT HEFFERNAN

IN THE MEDIA

Project 2021 // Marathon Mind

Rob Heffernan // The Late Late Show

Rob and Marian Heffernan // The Late Late Show

Rob Heffernan // Weekend AM

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