Flora wins on home soil

The weather held and although the sun didn’t shine on Flora Duffy the whole of Bermuda did as thousands lined Hamilton’s streets yesterday afternoon to witness just what a phenomenal athlete the Bermudian born triathlete is.

The World Triathlon Series (WTS) came to these shores for the first time and Bermuda excelled in hosting the event as two-time champion Duffy underlined her dominance by becoming the first woman in WTS history to win a race after being the leader in all three disciplines of swim, bike and run.

Flora won in a time of 2hr 1min 39sec, beating Vicky Holland, of Britain, into 2nd. Holland and American Katie Zaferes followed each other around the 10km run course way behind Duffy and then in an fantastic finish sprinted down towards the line neck and neck with Holland winning by a hairs breadth.

Both finished over a minute and a half behind the winner, and that was only because Duffy pretty much walked the last 20 metres hoisting a Bermuda flag around her shoulders, soaking in the cheering crowd and smiling from ear to ear. Duffy is a credit to her sport and her birthplace and it was a honour to witness her in full flow. My daughter also has a new hero.

In the men’s elite WTS race three Norwegian’s took to the podium with rank outsider Casper Stornes claiming the gold medal in a time of 1hr 54min 47 sec.