Flora Duffy On Goals, Retirement And More
[Written by Stephen Wright]
Dame Flora Duffy says she remains hopeful of returning to top-level racing next year after an injury-plagued season that kept her out of competition and forced her to reassess her future in the sport.
The five-time Olympian, who won gold at the 2020 Tokyo Games, reflected on a “season of non-events” after what began as a minor Achilles issue developed into a more serious injury.
Duffy has not competed since the opening race of the T100 World Triathlon Tour in Singapore in April, where she was unable to finish due to injury.
“I had high hopes and was really keen and excited to race on the T100 circuit,” Duffy told the Chasing the Burn podcast. “It all fell apart really quickly. I went to one race, but that was a disaster in Singapore.”
What she initially thought was a small setback “dragged on” for months before an ultrasound revealed a tear. “I tried shockwave treatment and did a bunch of rehab exercises, but nothing seemed to change,” she said.
The 38-year-old underwent platelet-rich plasma [PRP] injections in three places and said her recovery has since improved.
“I took four weeks off, and my rehab is going well. In the next week or so, I’ll start some lever running,” she added.
She admits the long layoff had taken a toll mentally as well as physically.
“As a professional athlete, the one thing you need not to do is get injured,” she said.
“You feel like you’re not delivering. That weighs on you – you feel guilty.”
Duffy said she even contemplated retirement during the summer.
“A couple of times I thought about it,” she said. “I know I’m towards the end of the time I want to race.
“One part of me thinks I still have some good racing left in me if I can get some training. I still think I can be one of the best in the world. The other part of me is thinking, ‘Is that delusional?’”
Still, she is taking a measured, forward-looking approach, determined to give her body time to heal and see if she can return to the top level.
“I’m at a crossroads at the moment,” she said. “Every athlete has a time limit. If my body can’t hold up to the demands of training needed to be one of the best in the world, then I don’t want to do it.
“Sure, I could half-train, but if I can’t be at the pointy end of the race, then it’s not for me.”
The four-time world champion said she may also explore mountain bike events next year if her recovery continues as planned.
“My ultimate goal is to get healthy, do one or two triathlons next year, and see where I’m at,” she added.
“Maybe I’ll be like, ‘OK, I got back, raced some good T1O0s or 70.3s; I’m now good.”
