Dame Flora Duffy On ‘Project Paris’ Hopes
[Written by Stephen Wright]
Dame Flora Duffy says “Project Paris” is back on after her superb return to action after an 18-month injury lay-off at the World Triathlon Championship Series [WTCS] Yokohama in Japan last Friday [May 10].
Duffy, competing for the first time since clinching a record fourth world title in Abu Dhabi in November 2022, finished seventh, completing the 1.5-kilometre swim, 40km bike and 10km in 1hr 53min 38sec.
The 36-year-old will look to build on her performance when she races at the WTCS Cagliari, Italy, on May 25, which will be her final outing before she defends her Olympic title at the Paris Games on July 31.
“After 18 months, I was curious how much I would or would not get back out there,” Duffy wrote on Instagram today.
“Relieved I did love it. And Project Paris remains alive for now!”
Duffy also listed what she had missed the most about competing, including “racing with some new faces” and “digging deep on the run.”
She added she had missed the triathlon community during her absence and was “proud to see the next generation develop.”
Duffy, who admitted in a recent interview she contemplated retirement because of a long-term knee injury, became the island’s first Olympic champion when she won the gold medal at the rescheduled Tokyo Games in 2021.
