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15 things we learned from the second episode of RTÉ's Road to Rio documentary

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RTÉ’S SIX-PART Road to Rio documentary continued tonight, following boxer Michael Conlan, swimmer Fiona Doyle and racewalker Robert Heffernan.

Yet again, it delivered and our excitement for the Olympics is well and truly starting to kick in.

Here are a few of the standout moments and quotes that grabbed our attention.

1) “People say you have to find something you love, and if it’s your job, you’ll never feel like you’re working a day in your life — and that’s me”

Michael Conlan celebrates winning a gold medal Presseye / Ian McNicol/INPHO Presseye / Ian McNicol/INPHO / Ian McNicol/INPHO

2) Robert Heffernan is a real family man

“It’s not just for you. It’s for everybody who’s connected with you and involved with you.”

rob

3) His wife Marian is his coach and also a retired international sprinter

Rob Heffernan with his wife Marian after finishing fifth Ian MacNicol / INPHO Ian MacNicol / INPHO / INPHO

4) Fiona Doyle has an identical twin sister

Eimear is an Irish junior record holder but was forced to end her swimming career due to injury. They’re very close, with Fiona saying “one of the big things when I’m swimming is it’s for her – when I stand up on the podium she’s beside me or when I stand up on the blocks, she’s there.”

eimear fiona

5) “Calgary is like the Texas of Canada. It’s very cowboy country-ish”

calgary2

6) Michael Conlan is extremely confident in his ability

“”I’m floating around that ring like a butterfly. There’s nothing gonna stop me. I’m flying.”

Michael Conlan is declared the winner Francis Myers / INPHO Francis Myers / INPHO / INPHO

7) And likes to look good

“All I want to do tomorrow is go out and lie in the sun and get burnt for coming home so I’ve a bit of a tan and I don’t look like a ghost on TV.”

conlanmakeup

8) Rob Heffernan has just 4% body fat

“Alright for a 36 year old,” as he said himself. Over the course of a couple of months of training, he lost more weight than the weight of his baby daughter Regan.

regan

9) ”I’m probably obsessed, I’m thinking about walking and training and recovery 24/7, it’s always on my mind”

Rob Heffernan on his way to finishing fifth Ian MacNicol / INPHO Ian MacNicol / INPHO / INPHO

10)  The 50km racewalk is a ridiculously tough event

It’s eight kilometres further than a marathon, completed in just over three-and-a-half hours while walking — think of it like that.

Rob Heffernan with the breakaway group Ian MacNicol / INPHO Ian MacNicol / INPHO / INPHO

11) Fiona Doyle has a pretty tough job balancing swimming and study

An evening in the life? ”Just finished two swim workouts totaling 430 lengths of the pool and a two-hour weight session, and now I’m about to start two to three hours of study.”

fiona doyle

12) “I’m going to stay at the top and be the best that there is”

Michael Conlan’s drive is astounding.

“What I’ve done so far in my career is only so far in my career, I have a lot more to go. That’s behind me now and I have to push on to bigger and better things and that’s the Olympic gold in Rio and many, many things after.”

Michael Conlan with his daughter Luisne Donall Farmer / INPHO Donall Farmer / INPHO / INPHO

13) Heffernan is a true sportsman

Despite pulling out of his race in Zurich, he still congratulated the winner at the end.

heff

14) Fiona Doyle’s family are extremely supportive

Her mam and granny even waved back at the TV when she was introduced before her race.

heff

15) ”I felt like feckin’ Niall Horan in One Direction”

Heffernan reacts to the crowds at his homecoming in Cork after winning in Moscow.

rob2

All non-INPHO images via RTE.

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LAST WEEk: 14 things we learned from the first episode

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