Robert Heffernan is bronze medalist in the 50km race walk from the London 2012 Olympic Games.

Heffernan, from Togher, in Cork competed for Ireland at five Olympic Games between 2000 and 2016. During this time he recorded a series of strong performances, including eighth place in the 20km at Beijing 2008 and top-ten finishes in both race walk events at London 2012.

His Olympic bronze was awarded retrospectively in 2016 following the disqualification of the original winner of the London 2012 race for a doping violation.

Heffernan won gold at the 2013 World Championships and a European Championships bronze medal, and set national records across both distances, establishing himself as one of the leading race walkers of his generation.