Karen Smith believes the future is bright for one of her main rivals at this weekend's Bank of Bermuda Foundation Triathlon.

Flora Duffy (15) is improving each year and has a second and a third to her credit among the women's field in the past two years.

In an interview last week Duffy, daughter of Bermuda Triathlon Association president Charlie Duffy, said she hoped to challenge Smith's dominance in the not too distant future. However, she acknowledged she still had some way to go.

"In a couple of years, maybe," she said. "But at the moment she (Smith) is so much stronger on the bike and the run than me."

Smith agrees with that assessment.

"Flora has huge potential," said Smith. "I know she has had some challenges with injuries and that's frustrating when it holds you back from training as hard as you want to. I have been through that this year.

"She is a fabulous swimmer and a very good cyclist and runner. She probably needs a little more time."

Smith said it was unfortunate there were few other young females coming through to help Duffy's progress.

"For her it's hard because her peers are no longer in the sport," she said. "I think it would help her if she was training with other people and I don't know who she trains with. I think she needs to make that next jump up in training but that's hard when you are at school and have other priorities."