Dame Flora Duffy is just days away from making her return to international competition.

Duffy’s name has appeared on the start list for the elite women’s race at World Triathlon Championship Series Yokohama, which takes place on Saturday.

If the Olympic champion does appear on the start line in Japan, it will be her first taste of competitive action since she won a record fourth triathlon world championships in Abu Dhabi in November 2022.

In the 18 months since, Duffy has battled a persistent knee injury and in a recent podcast she admitted to her training partner Chelsea Burns that there had been moments when she had considered calling an end to her career.

“I didn’t want to give in to the voice in my head telling me to retire and I was just trying to focus on healing my knee,” Duffy said.

“However, as the year went on and it got to December 2023, I had the lowest point.”

Duffy appeared to officially confirm her appearance in Japan on Instagram last night, reposting a World Triathlon picture proclaiming “Flora is back” and she has made no secret of her desire to be in Paris this summer to defend the Olympic title she won in imperious fashion in Tokyo.