Beijing-bound Flora Duffy will have the luxury of being able to lighten her competition workload this season after securing passage to the Olympic Games via a wild card.

Duffy, who was already on track to qualify, will now be able to focus her preparations fully on this summer's showpiece without the pressure of requiring Olympic points.

She would have had to travel to Mexico for the PATCO Pan Am Championships later this month, but will now kick-start her campaign at the BG World Cup race, in South Africa, in May, while she recovers from a knee injury.

The 20-year-old admitted her emotions ranged from relief, excitement and then fear when she learned of her wild card - one of only two granted to triathletes by the International Olympic Council (IOC).

"It's a massive boost and a huge relief for me," said Duffy who returned to Bermuda last week.

"Now I know I'm definitely going to Beijing I can focus on planning and preparing for the Olympics.

"Obviously I need to keep racing to build up my conditioning, but if I get an injury I will be able to pullout.

"The wild card means it won't be a big issue for me as I don't need to pick up points and that really takes the pressure off.

"I applied for the wild card but I didn't expect to receive it to be honest.

"I was already on track to qualify for the Games and my emotions were a mixture of excitement, relief as well as being a little bit scared.

"There's no bigger stage than the Olympics and it's something all athletes dream about."

Last season saw Duffy struggle to improve upon her sensational debut season as a professional athlete and fail to finish two World Cup races due to fatigue problems.

But with her Olympic place set in stone, Duffy said she was feeling relaxed and even more motivated ahead of what promises to be an exciting summer for the Paget-born youngster.

"I believe the problems I experienced last season are now behind me," she said.

"Obviously my confidence took a knock and I'll be pretty nervous before my first World Cup race next month.

"But the wild card has given me a real boost. I've been recovering from a knee injury and I'm not as stressed about it as I was.

"I'm back to training four or five times a-week and my focus now is firmly on the Olympics.

"I just need to get a few good performances under my belt because I'm on the right track."

Despite a disappointing 2007 by her own high standards, Duffy was still crowned Bermuda Female Athlete of the Year last month although she conceded the accolade took her by surprise.

"The Female Athlete of the Year award was unexpected, especially considering the second half of the season I had last year," said Duffy who has performed at a Commonwealth and Pan Am Games.

"It was well below the standards I set myself but I suppose my performances may have been on a par with other Bermudian sports women.

"But I was pleased to receive it and it's nice to know people are still supporting me."

Duffy must still meet the minimum eligibility criteria in Beijing, which means she must be ranked in the top –125 of the International Triathlon Union (ITU) Olympic rankings.