Rob Heffernan Presented with European Championship 20k Bronze Medal at Civic Reception


Presentation of European Championship Bronze medal for 20k Walk to Rob Heffernan at civic reception in Cork City Hall Dec 19th 2014
L to R: Ciaran O'Cathain, President, Athletics Ireland, Sonia O'Sullivan, Olympian, OCI committee member and World Champion, Rob Heffernan, Olympian and World Champion, Cllr. Mary Shields, Lord Mayor of Cork, John Foley, CEO, AAI, and Liam Hennessy, AAI and Council Member European Athletics.

Location: Lord Mayor's Chambers, City Hall, Cork - photo: John Walshe


Rob Heffrenan European Championship Bronze Medal Presentation
AAI President, Ciaran O'Cathain, Sonia O'Sullivan, Rob Heffernan and Cllr. Mary Shields, Lord Mayor, with Marion and Regan Heffernan in the background, on left.

Media Articles

Heffernan heroics finally earn reward with European bronze - Irish Examiner, Sat Dec 20th, 2014
Belated bronze ‘a dream come true’ for Heffernan - Newstalk 106-108FM
Delight for Rob at bronze medal presentation - Evening Echo, Sat Dec 20th, 2014

Photos

Photos from reception on Cork AAI Flickr account
Rob & Marian Heffernan's Facebook album
Tony O'Connell Photography's Facebook album

Videos

Rob Heffernan accepting his medal - video by Jumping The Gun
Rob Heffernan interviewed by Jumping The Gun

At a civic reception in Cork City Hall, this evening, Rob Heffernan was presented with his Bronze Medal, for his performance in the 20k walk, at the 2010 European Championships, held in Barcelona, in 2010.
Rob Heffernan with some of his Togher AC clubmates
Rob Heffernan surrounded by some of the Togher AC clubmates who attended the reception.

The presentation was made by Cork's Lord Mayor, Cllr. Mary Shields, along with Sonia O'Sullivan and Derval O'Rourke.
Also in attendance were AAI president, Ciaran O'Cathain, AAI CEO, John Foley, Cork Athletics Chairman, Paddy Buckley, a large Togher AC contingent and many supporters and admirers.

Rob had placed fourth in the event, behind Russian winner, Stanislav Emelyanov. Alex Schwazer (Italy), 1:20:38, was second, with Joćo Vieira (Portugal), 1:20:49, third and Rob fourth, in 1:21:00.  However irregularities in Emelyanov's biologial passport, dating from just before the Barcelona games, resulted in him being banned and his results after that being deleted from the record books.  It is also noteworthy that the person now in Gold, Italy's Alex Schwazer, was himself banned in 2012, but only from then, so it has no "knock-on" medal effects.  Nevertheless the matter is still under scrutiny, so, as they say, "the jury is still out"

As a consequence of Emelyanov's disqualification, athletes placing behind him have all been moved up one place, resulting in Rob being elevated to Bronze. The official records have been amended.

The Champions! Sonia O'Sullivan, Rob Heffernan and Derval O'Rourke
Golden trio! Champions Sonia O'Sullivan, Rob Heffernan and Derval O'Rourke

There was a large press attendance and the reception featured on this evening's RTE TV news, along with coverage on several radio stations.