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Boyce celebrates after his incredible display. Morgan Treacy/INPHO

Ireland's Boyce moonwalks across finish line to take sixth place in World Championships

The Donegal man completed the 50 km race walk in the early hours of Sunday morning.

IRELAND’S BRENDAN BOYCE produced a stunning performance to finish sixth in the 50km race walk at the World Championship in Doha.

The Donegal native clocked an impressive 4:07:46 to complete the race in the early hours of Sunday morning which was won by Japan’s Yusuke Suzuki in a time of 4:04:20.

Boyce, who is coached by Irish race-walking legend Rob Heffernan, overcame the searing heat to move strongly over the final 10km and seal a memorable performance with a moonwalk over the line.

“It means a lot and I want to thank everyone who’s helped me this year,” said an emotional Boyce after the race.

“I was in eight or ninth place after 40km and I thought about picking people off then. The race plan was perfect, Rob helped me out and made sure I was fully confident. 

“It didn’t matter what the conditions were, I was going to be top six or top eight. 

I just love 50km,” he laughs. “Being Irish, we just love misery so 50km is perfect for me. Being out there and miserable for four hours – misery is happiness for me.

“Bring on Tokyo, I wanna win that medal.”

His coach Rob Heffernan added: “having watched the women’s marathon the night before we prepared to not have any excuses and I’m delighted it worked out for him.”

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Sinead Farrell
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