Episode 3
Father of three Robert Heffernan is married to retired international sprinter Marian. The 2013 World Champion dropped out of a race for the first time at the 2014 European Championships and is now focused on getting the Olympic qualifying time in Dudince, Slovakia, and qualifying for a record equaling 5th Olympics. But away from the track the Russian drugs scandal sees him awarded the 2010 European Championship Bronze. And that isn’t the only surprise, as he finds out he will be a father for the fourth time.
Matthew McGovern and Ryan Seaton sail in the high- speed 49er class.Having competed in London 2012, they are hoping to build on their 14th place, but first they need to qualify the Irish boat for Rio. Their events take them all over the world for much of the year, but when they are not competing they train in Bangor and Belfast. Their Olympic dreams are on the line as they compete in the Sailing World Championships in Santander. Will they be able to finish in the top 10 and book their ticket to Rio?
Martyn Irvine is a track cyclist from Newtownards. He left his job as a car mechanic and began competitive cycling at 17. Within ten years he had become World Champion and won another 5 major medals. The future was looking bright, but then disaster struck as he shattered his hip in a crash on the track. Already an Olympian he is looking to rebuild his shattered body and regain his medal winning form. Wife Grace has put her career on hold and is helping him train for the World Championships. With time moving on, will he be able to recapture his world title?
Series Overview:
Road To Rio is a six-part series that captures the ecstatic highs and crushing lows as Ireland’s medal hopefuls- across a range of disciplines – train, compete and try to qualify for Rio 2016. The audience will be watching on as the tension builds before big qualifying events, as these athletes strive to reach the pinnacle of sporting achievement- the Olympics.
Focusing not just on sport, this observational documentary series also draws a clearer picture of these exceptional people and how they balance a world-class training regimes with living their everyday lives.
Drawn from urban and rural backgrounds, from across Ireland, the would-be Olympians compete in a wide range of disciplines – Boxing, Modern Pentathlon, Race Walking, Sailing, Showjumping, Sprint Hurdles, Swimming, Taekwondo, Track Cycling, and the Marathon- featuring a mix of first timers full of hunger, alongside experienced campaigners who know how much sacrifice lies ahead. While we would like all our athletes to win gold medals, inevitably for some, the Road To Rio will end in disappointment.
Many of our sporting hopefuls struggle to finance their dream of representing the nation, while having to stay focused on the end game. As they train to be one of the world’s best, Road To Rioshines a light on the effect this level of dedication has on their personal and private lives.