Flora Duffy (Cover Story

Flora Duffy has achieved something that no one in Bermuda had ever done before, she earned an Olympic Gold medal. The win came in the sport of triathlon in a time of 1:55.36, a minute and 14 seconds ahead of second-place TaylorBrown from the UK. Flora Duffy is a 10-time world champion and the first triathlete in history to be crowned both the World and Olympic Champion in the same year. The Olympic Gold medal accomplishment had prompted Bermuda to do something that was not done when Clarence Hill earned Bermuda’s first-ever Olympic medal, the bronze at the Montreal Games in Canada 1976, to celebrate the athlete and the achievement. On October 18th, 2021, Bermuda declared “Flora Duffy Day”, a public holiday in recognition of Flora’s gold medal success in the Tokyo Olympics. After three unsuccessful attempts to medal at the Games in Beijing, London and Rio de Janeiro, Flora realized her childhood dream of winning Olympic gold on July 28th, 2021. To honor and recognize Flora Duffy’s historic accomplishments, a schedule of events for the day was announced, that also include the recognition denied to Bermuda’s first Olympic, bronze medal winner, Clarence Hill. Olympic champion Flora Duffy was treated to a hero’s welcome in what proved a meaningful occasion as people lined the streets from the airport to her high school, Warwick Academy and on to the Cabinet Office to meet the Premier, David Burt. Bermuda welcomed home their greatest athlete.

Flora Duffy in action

Flora and husband Dan Hugo married in December 2017.

Seon Place (141 Front Street), a building owned by former Premier of Bermuda, Sir John Swan which sits in the middle of the main road, where East Broadway divides into Front Street and Spurling Hill, commuters were greeted with a large portrait of Flora with her Olympic gold medal.

Stamps are issued to commemorate special occasions, special events, objects of importance and Bermuda’s cultural history. The Bermuda Post Office Revealed Two Commemorative Stamps to honor Flora Duffy for her remarkable athletic victory during the Summer Olympic Games 2020.

The Bermuda Government renamed the National Sports Centre’s South Field Stadium, “The Flora Duffy Stadium”. The name change – in accordance with the Public Lands Act 1984 – will be posted in the Official Gazette.

Premier of Bermuda, David Burt has a good look at Flora’s Olympic gold medal

Sports minister Ernest Peets David Burt, Premier of Bermuda

Flora and family at the re-naming of Corkscrew Hill to Flora Duffy Hill.

Flora Duffy received a pair of custom-made gold shoes from her running shoe sponsor, Asics, which showcases the Bermuda flag.

Mayor of Hamilton Charles Gosling presented Olympic champion Flora Duffy with the ‘Key to the City’, the key symbolizes the freedom of the recipient to enter and leave the city at will, a symbolic gesture of honor and respect bestowed upon a trusted individual.

“Forever Golden”, a special bike built by Flora’s bike sponsor, Specialized Triathlon to commemorate her Olympic gold and becoming the first Triathlete in history to be crowned both the World and Olympic Champion in the same year. The bike is white with sports gold marble-like coloring on the frame and the words “Forever Golden”.

Flora was born between two brothers, Joel (blue shirt) is the oldest and Campbell is the youngest.

The Hamilton Princess & Beach Club renamed one of its rooms as The Flora Duffy Suite. Room, 549, is where the Olympic gold medalist has usually stayed and could be seen training on the balcony. The Gold level, one bedroom suite is one of the hotel’s finest rooms, offering panoramic views over Hamilton Harbor.

Gosling Brothers Limited, a Bermudan company best known for blending and distributing rum, launched a limited release of aged rum, called ‘Flora Gold’. The collaboration with Olympic gold medalist will see the first 15 bottles, which have been autographed by Flora and put to be auctioned with proceeds going to benefit the Flora Fund, which supports aspiring Bermudian athletes. Each bottle has been hand dipped in black sealing wax, signed, and numbered by Flora Duffy herself.

Bermuda Sports Journal would like to encourage those who consume Flora Gold to drink responsibly.

Flora’s mom and dad, Charles and Maria Duffy, who are still active triathletes could not be happier or prouder of their girl.