World Championships Moscow 2013

Ireland has another world champion!! Rob Heffernan won gold in the 50km race walk competition - I'm so proud of him. He has improved steadily over the years, and it is about time that his hard work and dedication are rewarded. He came 4th in the London Olympics 2012, so winning today in Moscow is even more special after missing out on a medal last summer. I should also mention that is it 30 years to the day since an Irish man won a gold medal at the World Championships - Eamonn Coughlan in the 5000m at the first World Championships in Helsinki. However, we have had success in the women's competition since then - Gillian O'Sullivan (20km race walk, silver medal, 2003) and Sonia O'Sullivan (1500m, silver medal, 1993/5000m, gold medal, 1995).

I love to watch the World Championships and Olympic Games (well actually almost any sport), but these two are definitely in the top 5. In 2004 I went to the Olympic Games in Athens for my holidays - it was one of the best holidays ever, and that says a lot since I've been to many amazing destinations in the last 10 years. I guess being able to watch sports every day on your holidays is something I thoroughly enjoy, and having the opportunity to support Irish athletes at the same time :)

I was in Berlin at the weekend and I got to watch the 100m men's final - Usain Bolt did it again! But I was very disappointed to read today that RTE (Irish television broadcaster) did not show the World Championships at all - and therefore, missed the opportunity to broadcast Rob Heffernan winning gold for Ireland. Something is not quite right here, and I hope they realise their mistake.

Competing in sports is a really tough job - especially race walking, where the training is very intense and time-consuming. I'm just really happy that all this work paid off in the end. Well done Rob, and hopefully this is only the start of the winning streak!

 

(c) Getty Images IAAF.org