"There is no reason why the Irish can't be the best in the world" according to new world 50k walk champion Rob Heffernan as he spoke to Ger and Joe on Off The Ball about how it felt to win the gold medal at this year's World Athletics championships in Moscow.
Heffernan, who became Ireland's first gold medal winner at the World Athletic's championship since 1995, gives a revealing insight into what is going through an athletes mind throughout the race.
The Togher native readily admitting that he found the last few hundred metres the hardest of the whole race as he began to feel physically sick but knowing the Irish support out there for him help him overcome any difficulties.
"Three hundred metres to go was my biggest crisis in the race cause i'm there waving to everyone and my stomach is beginning to churn".
Heffernan, who finished fourth in the same event at the London Olympics last year, was also quick to thank his pregnant wife Marian, a fellow athlete who took time out from her own training to help her husband achieve his goal, and the role she played in his success.
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