I’m so, so proud to be Bermudian right now.”

Those are the words of Judy Simons, president of the Bermuda Olympic Association, after Flora Duffy captured third place in the women’s triathlon at the Pan American Games in Toronto on Saturday.

It was nigh on the perfect start for our contingent in Canada: the standard-bearer of excellence for the team leading from the front in Bermuda’s first competitive action in Toronto.

We may or may not add to the bronze that Duffy so proudly wore around her neck at the presentation ceremony — such is the level of competition our little Island is up against — but already we are just about confirmed as “pound-for-pound” champions of these Games.

And how Duffy deserves to have a podium finish at a major Games on her CV, the achievement made more special because it came in front of her parents. In combination with kindred spirit Tyler Butterfield, she has represented Bermuda with distinction since first appearing at the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne as a teenager.

After a brief break to get over the disappointment of not finishing her event at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, Duffy has been an athlete reborn and ultra-committed to getting the most out of her career.

So, too, Butterfield, who announced this year that his priority is to crack the top seven of the Ironman World Championship in Kona, Hawaii. His giving nature and dedication to representing Bermuda meant that he was burning the candle at both ends — and last year’s Kona experience convinced him that a difficult decision had to be made.

But, while appearances at the Pan Ams and at the Rio Olympics next year have had to be sacrificed, no doubt he will share in Duffy’s triumph, as we all do. It was something to behold, achieved despite blatant American team tactics that were ultimately destined to failure. Thankfully.

We can now add Duffy deservedly to Bermuda’s “Pan Am Games Hall of Fame”. It has been 12 years in coming, waiting for someone to reach that level of achievement since sailor Malcolm Smith won the second of his two silver medals in the Sunfish class.

The Pan Am honour roll can now stand as thus:

• Toronto 2015: Flora Duffy (bronze, triathlon)

• Santo Domingo 2003: Malcolm Smith (silver, sailing)

• Winnipeg 1999: MJ Tumbridge (gold, three-day event); Malcolm Smith (silver, sailing); Sara Wright (silver, sailing)

• Mar del Plata, Argentina 1995: Paula Lewin (bronze, sailing)

• Indianapolis 1987: Peter Gray* (bronze, three-day event)

• Winnipeg 1967: Team Bermuda (silver, football); Penny Simmons (bronze, sailing)

The asterisk for Gray is recognition that he actually finished fourth in his event but was awarded the bronze owing to an ill-fated new rule that precluded any one nation from filling the equestrian podium, as the United States would have done on that occasion. That rule has since which been annulled.

Significantly, Duffy has improved Bermuda’s haul to 15 medals at the three major Games, to go with Clarence Hill’s 1976 bronze from the Olympics and five at the Commonwealth Games, most notably Clarance Saunders’s gold in Auckland in 1990.

If we are lucky, more is in the offing from the remaining 16 over six disciplines. But even if we are not — if Saturday was all we have to shout about — there is no shame in that. Rather, it reminds what is required to reach the very top.

A scan of Duffy’s greatest hits will reveal that she has put herself through so much to be considered a threat every time she takes to the start line. What she accomplished in 2014 was unbelievable, especially criss-crossing as she did between the conventional form of triathlon and the world of Xterra, the off-road racing series in which she had to familiarise herself with the mountain bike and trail runs. After barely a year and a bit of dedication to it, Duffy is the world champion.

Pride in competing for Bermuda shines through in every interview she gives, whether it be locally or overseas — lessons that could be learnt by some of our less decorated “stars” — and it is to be hoped that Saturday’s performance, coming as it did in the wake of a debilitating bout of shin splints, will catapult her to the glory of all glories at the Rio Olympics.

She said after capturing eighth at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow last summer, “I love representing Bermuda at major games, and can’t wait for the next chance.”

Neither can we.