Paris triathlon: “I wanted to be on that podium,” says fifth-place finisher Flora Duffy

Tokyo Olympic champion Flora Duffy finished fifth in today’s Olympic women’s triathlon event, having led for the entire swim and the first lap of the bike leg.

But the four-time world champion had been hoping for higher, and had plenty to reflect on at the finish line, not least that incredible swim start…

 ”I mean, I wasn’t expecting to be leading it! I really knew how to swim to stay out of the current or to navigate the current really well. Me and [husband and former pro] Dan had talked about it quite a lot. He’s very good at reading rivers and currents from his paddling background.

“So I got to the first buoy and I was second and I could tell the person in front of me wasn’t swimming particularly fast. So I thought I’ll just take it and I’m going to swim strategically as best I can and that opened up a big gap because others weren’t swimming the current very smart.

“But that kind of left me with a bit of a dilemma on the bike because I’ve done races so long I thought, wow, maybe I’ll just go for it! But there was strong girls And no one leaves me out there, they know they can’t. I just did the best I could and then got the group together. I just tried to make it a bit aggressive.

No run legs today

“But I just didn’t have my run legs today, which is really disappointing. I’ve been running much better than that and know I can run with the leaders. But yeah, that’s racing, right?

“And fifth place where I was a year ago was very doubtful. Honestly, even earlier this year in April, it was doubtful I would get here. So to be here, be in the mix, finish fifth at my fifth Olympics, yeah, I can be very proud of that.

“But of course, I mean, I’m a competitor and I wanted to be on that podium and I knew I could run to be on it. So that’s like a little bittersweet right now, but I think with time, I’ll be very proud with the place.”

Fifth at the fifth

As it sunk in that this was her fifth and final Games, Duffy’s eyes quickly teared up.

“That makes me really emotional. Obviously I’m very proud of the five Olympics, and winning gold in Tokyo, and everything that’s opened up for my career and everything that’s been done for Bermuda. And how much it meant for everyone there.

“I’m getting emotional because I’m proud, not sad.”

And what’s next for the woman who’s won everything going in short-course racing?

“I think I’m going to do some longer-course racing. I’m not sure how many other short course races I’ll do. I’ve kind of accomplished everything I’ve wanted to. So I’m pretty happy with how it’s gone.”