By Sean Moriarty

The wheels of the plane have finally touched down in Tokyo as a Kerry Olympian undergoes final preparations for his 20km Race Walk debut next Thursday.

22-year-old David Kenny from Rusheen, Firies, arrived yesterday (Thursday) following in the footsteps of Glenflesk athlete Gillian O’Sullivan who walked for Ireland in the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney.

David finished second in the U23 European Championships in Estonia last month but in Olympic terms he is ranked 54th in the world. Race walkers, like other endurance athletes, tend to come into better form in their late 20s or early 30s.

At home in Rusheen, the excitement is building ahead of his race which is scheduled for 8.30am next Thursday.

His father Noel, a postman in the Kilcummin area, mother Mary, and three sisters Sarah, Laura and Rebecca can’t wait for Thursday’s event.

“I have taken the whole week off,” Noel told the Killarney Advertiser. “He is ranked 54th in the world, but if he finishes 53rd I will be a happy man.”

CAREER

Kenny became a race walker almost by accident. As a youngster he played soccer for Ballyhar Dynamos, football for Firies and hurling for Dr Crokes. He was also an accomplished cross-country runner through the winter months.

Farranfore-Maine Valley AC members Mike O’Connor and Jerome Crowley – both former champion race-walkers – encouraged him into the discipline so he could compete at the Track and Field events during the summer months.

His career took off and already this year he has competed in Estonia and has attended warm-weather training events in Spain and South Africa.

“The day after St Stephen’s Day he was on a flight to South Africa for training, that’s the dedication and I don’t know any other 22-year-old who has travelled so much,” Noel added.

David has been mentored by Cork athlete Rob Heffernan, who participated in five Olympic Games and took bronze in London in 2012.

“Rob keeps telling David that he is better than him at the same age,” Noel said.

Kenny’s personal best for the 50km walks is 1 hour 23 minutes and 6 seconds. The expected race-winning pace is in the region of 1 hour and 19 minutes.