Rob Heffernan – Athletics

In becoming the first Irish athlete to be selected for five consecutive Summer Games (equalling the all-time record of Irish sailor David Wilkins) Heffernan has already written his own piece of history, although he’s not in Rio to make up the numbers. The father of four, coached by wife Marian, comes armed with the 50km walk bronze retrospectively awarded from London 2012, with every intention of equalling of doing better this time. At 38 he’s not necessarily old by race-walk standards and still has the confidence to hunt for another medal, especially after finishing fifth at last year’s World Championships in Beijing.