It was a long time coming, but Robert Heffernan finally got the Olympic medal-winning moment of glory he deserved at a ceremony in Cork City Hall.

The City Hall was packed with family, friends and supporters, all who all wanted to share in the  medal presentation ceremony with this very special athlete, who is loved dearly by all Corkonians.

Robert realised his life’s dream by receiving his bronze medal more than four years after the 50km walk in London 2012.  The 2013 World 50km champion finished fourth at the London games, but Russian Sergey Kirdyapkin was stripped of his Olympic title in March for a doping violation, moving the 38-year-old into a medal position.

Now he has a full set of medals European, World and Olympic.

It was a busy day for Robert who also launched his autobiography ‘Walking Tall’. In this no-holds-barred account, Robert describes his battles with injury, depression and  poverty on his way to the top.  This is the inside story of how one boy’s dream led him on a  journey to athletics greatness.