World champion Flora Duffy said that it will be “an absolute blast” to compete in front of her home crowd after Bermuda was chosen to host three International Triathlon Union World Triathlon Series events.

Senator Michael Fahy, the Minister of Tourism, Transport and Municipalities, announced that the island will host three ITU world series events in 2018, 2019 and 2020, although the 2020 ITU World Triathlon Series Grand Final went to Edmonton, Canada.

Duffy, who was a part of Bermuda’s bid team, was inspired to become a professional triathlete as a youngster when Bermuda hosted three ITU World Cup events between 1995 and 1997 and said her world has “come full circle”.

The reigning women’s ITU world champion said: “It’s going to be incredible.

“I grew up watching the race that Bermuda hosted in the Nineties, the ITU World Cup. Seeing that first hand inspired me to be a professional triathlete.

“For it to come full circle and me to be racing on the roads of Bermuda in a couple of years time is just really incredible.

“I did the Front Street Mile every year as a kid and now I am going to be running on it as a professional and multiple world champion.

“I really hope Bermuda gets behind it and I’m excited to race in front of my friends and family. I think it’s going to be an absolute blast.

“For me it will be a really special moment in my career, especially in 2020, it will be one of the key races in the build to the Tokyo Olympics.

“It’s really, really special and I am so thankful and grateful that Phil [Bermuda bid team chairman Philipp Schmidt] had this idea and everyone in Bermuda has been so supportive. It’s really special.”

As many as 1,200 triathletes will travel to Bermuda to compete in each of the three world series events that the island plays host to, with the anticipated economic impact of about $20 million a year in return.

The events will take place in Hamilton.

“The course really excites me and I think everyone is going to be so intrigued and excited to race here in Bermuda on our roads and our beautiful water,” Duffy said.

“It’s just such a unique place and I think, given the amount of years I’ve raced on the world circuit, a lot of people know about Bermuda but don’t know that much. They know it’s a pretty place.

“But I think once they get to Bermuda and do the course and meet all the people they are just going to really, really enjoy it.”