Flora Duffy’s parents received a spontaneous standing ovation on Front Street after the athlete romped home in the World Triathlon Bermuda at the weekend.

Maria, Duffy’s mother, said: “We were walking back to the car and as we walked past Port O Call, a couple of people recognised us and they just stood up and started cheering and clapping, which was wonderful.”

The same thing happened as the pair passed the nearby Dog House bar.

Mrs Duffy said: “That was really heart-touching that people would do that.”

Charles, Duffy’s father, said: “We were already feeling really proud and great.

“It was just part of the fun of the afternoon, really.”

Mrs Duffy has been inundated by well-wishers since her daughter’s win on Saturday.

She said: “Everybody just keeps congratulating you. It just goes on and on.

“It’s just awesome.”

Mr Duffy said the attention did not make the couple feel awkward at all because it was a tribute to their daughter’s achievements.

He added: “So it’s a good thing.”

Flora cruised to victory in the MS Amlin World Triathlon Bermuda on Saturday.

The two-times world champion said the home win was the biggest of her career and ranked above her gold medal win at the Commonwealth Games in Australia last month.

Mrs Duffy said the massive crowd that turned out to cheer her daughter on created an atmosphere that matched the best she and her husband had ever seen.

Mr Duffy added: “The number of people that were out there shouting her name — that was a surprise.

“It was like a time bomb waiting to go off — and then it went off when Flora went to rack the bike.

“And it continued for the next three hours, really.”

He said the family had been “ridiculously proud” of Flora’s achievements for several years.

Mr Duffy added: “It was really good to see other people — as Flora put it — who had probably never heard of triathlon a year ago out there.”

And he said the hometown crowd support was not just focused on Flora.

Mr Duffy added: “They were really supporting everyone else, which was really nice to see.

“I was proud of that.”

Flora and fellow Commonwealth Games gold medallist Clarance “Nicky” Saunders were honoured yesterday with a parade through the streets of Hamilton.

Mr Saunders captured gold for Bermuda — the island’s first — in the high jump at the 1990 Commonwealth Games in New Zealand.

Thousands lined the streets along the route from the Hamilton Princess to the Cabinet Office grounds.

Joel Duffy, Flora’s older brother, watched the parade from the junction of Church Street and Burnaby Street in Hamilton.

He said: “I kind of looked down the hill to where City Hall is and there was a lot of people out there, clapping and waving flags.

“It was pretty cool.”

Since his sister’s win, Joel has been inundated with congratulations from people who recognised him as Flora’s brother.

He said: “I’ve got a lot of Facebook messages from people. It’s just very nice.”

He welcomed the attention if it meant people were interested in his sister’s accomplishments.

Joel said: “It’s great that people are paying attention to Flora.

“I think it’s good that people got to see what she can do live and in person.”

He said Duffy’s win would not change his life — unlike his famous sister.

Joel explained: “It’s not like I can’t go to a restaurant without people coming up to me.

“Whereas with Flora, that probably wouldn’t be the case.

“I know it’s pretty overwhelming for Flora. It kind of goes with the territory, though.”

Joel said his sister represented more than just the Duffy family.

He added: “She’s a spokeswoman for Bermuda, in a lot of ways.”