Flora Duffy described her bronze-medal performance in the Pan American Games triathlon as an “incredible feeling” after showing true grit to hold on for a podium finish on Saturday.

Duffy, who was the Island’s first athlete in action in Toronto, admitted she had to dig deep to fulfil her dream of capturing a medal for Bermuda at a major competition.

“I can’t put into words how I’m feeling right now,” the former Warwick Academy pupil said.

“I’m really happy and I don’t think it’s quite hit me yet. It’s huge for me to win a medal for Bermuda — I’ve wanted to do this for a while.

“Bermuda doesn’t medal very often at these events, so it’s very, very cool. I’m over the moon.”

In fact, it was only Bermuda’s ninth medal in 48 years of trying at the Pan Am Games, dating back to the historic silver medal won by the football team and the bronze that sailor Penny Simmons collected in Winnipeg.

Duffy’s proud parents, Charles and Maria, were both beaming as they waved Bermuda flags from the grandstand, while their daughter was presented with her medal.

Mr Duffy said he was amazed how well his daughter performed, considering she had only just recovered from shin splints.

“Flora rarely slows up and just keeps going at that pace and waits for the others to drop back,” he said. “I’m in disbelief, really.”

Duffy’s magical moment in Toronto was a far cry from the misery that she endured at the Beijing Olympics in 2008. It was a torrid year for Duffy, who was suffering from chronic loss of form and illness.

Mr Duffy admitted that Flora very nearly quit the sport and believed that moving to Boulder, Colorado, had been the making of her.

“I certainly look back to a few years ago when she was almost completely out of the sport,” he said. “It was awful and, thankfully, the University of Colorado got her in there and gradually she came back.

“Flora’s never satisfied to come seventh or eighth. She always says, ‘I’m better than that’, and she’s right.”

Duffy’s mother said she always believed her daughter was capable of winning a medal in Toronto. “Stunning, amazing, fantastic and unbelievable,” Mrs Duffy said. “She had the belief she could do it and coming off the injury as well ... phenomenal.”

Judy Simons, president of the Bermuda Olympic Association, admitted to losing her battle to fight back the tears as Duffy crossed the finish line at the Ontario Place West Channel.

“I’ve never cried at a sporting event, but today I sobbed like a baby,” Simons said. “I’m so, so proud to be Bermudian right now.

“Flora deserves every accolade that comes her way. She told me nine years ago when she was 18 at the Commonwealth Games [in Melbourne] that she deserved to be there after finishing eighth.

“Well, now she deserves to be on that podium and I’m sure Bermuda went nuts when they heard the news.”

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