Flora Duffy will make her long-awaited competitive return to triathlon at the Tokyo Olympic Test Event next month.

Duffy has not finished a race since battling through the pain barrier to win the WTS Yokahoma, Japan, in May 2018 because of a lingering foot injury.

The two-times world champion’s last race came at WTS Hamburg two months later, where she suffered a significant setback to her injury and finished in tenth place.

Although she does not expect to be anywhere close to race fit, Duffy believes it is important to familiarise herself with the course at Odaiba Marine Park, where the Olympic Games will be held exactly a year later.

If Duffy comes through the race unscathed on August 15, she intends to compete in the ITU World Triathlon Grand Final in Lausanne, Switzerland, two weeks later.

As well as putting paid to her hopes of becoming the first woman to win three straight world titles, Duffy’s injury also forced her out of the Pan American Games, which started in Lima, Peru, this week.

The 31-year-old said she is “gutted” to miss the quadrennial multi-sport event in which she won the bronze medal in Toronto in 2015.

“I’d like to wish each athlete representing Bermuda in Lima the very best,” Duffy told The Royal Gazette. “I’m gutted not to be part of the team, and will be following all of the results closely.

“As with the national football team, who competed in the Gold Cup, Bermuda sport is on the up and up!”

Duffy said she will be paying particularly close attention to the women’s triathlon which features Bermudian Erica Hawley tomorrow (Saturday).

“A special shoutout to Erica representing in the triathlon,” Duffy added.

“I have fond memories of the honour to win a medal at the Pan American Games.

“I wish I could repeat a medal win this year, but the lingering foot injury is forcing me to be patient. Lots of Bermuda pride for the entire team.”