21 November 2013
By TheCork.ie
news@TheCork.ie
By TheCork.ie
news@TheCork.ie
50K racewalking champion of the world Rob Heffernan was named November Cork Person of the Month, and his name now goes forward for possible selection as Person of the Year at the 21st Cork Person of the Year awards function on 17th January 2014 next in the Rochestown Park Hotel.
Rob has joined the list of Irish sporting greats, by claiming Ireland’s third ever gold medal at a world athletics championships.
The 35-year old Togher Athletics Club member praised his trainer, wife Marian, who put her own athletics career on hold to help her husband bring home a gold medal to Cork and Ireland.
Rob’s winning time in Moscow of 3:37:56 was the fastest time in the world this year by more than three minutes and a new Irish record.
“I’ve a dream of creating a walking school in Cork because I feel I have so much to give back to the sport” said Rob, at the award presentation.
Tony O’Connell, Chairman of the Cork City Sports, who nominated Rob for the Person of Month award said the Douglas resident had put Cork on the world athletics map.
“It would now be great to see him compete in the Rio de Janeiro Olympics in 2016”, added Mr. O’Connell.
