Bernardo Segura, Mexico's Minister for Sport, has made a brief visit to Dublin this weekend but not for any political reason. Segura also happens to be an Olympic bronze medallist in the 20km walk and today he competes in the Waterford Crystal Dublin Grand Prix on the roads of the Phoenix Park.
Race walking is the second most popular sport in Mexico after soccer and Segura is something of national idol as a result. Some 50,000 people showed up to see him walk in Monterrey when the 1993 World Cup was staged there. How he juggles his Ministerial work between the exhaustive training necessary for his event is a bit of a mystery.
Today's event is also an opportunity to see three of Ireland's Olympic qualifiers in action. Robert Heffernan competes in the 50km walk and both Gillian O'Sullivan and Olive Loughnane go in the 10km distance. Jamie Costin, who has also qualified for Sydney, is unfortunately absent through injury.
Among the other countries sending teams are Slovakia, real powerhouses in race walking, along with Portugal, Hungary, Germany and Britain. The races start at 9.0 with the 50km distance and the 20km is due off at 11.30.
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