Bermudians are ‘bursting with pride’ as triathlete <PERSON> brings home the country’s first Olympic gold · Global Voices
Bermuda's <PERSON> leads a pack of elite triathletes at the 2012 Edmonton ITU Triathlon World Cup. Photo by <PERSON> on Flickr, CC BY-NC-ND 2.0.
The Caribbean island of Bermuda officially has its first-ever gold medal at the Olympic Games, thanks to the efforts of <PERSON>. The 33-year-old triathlete won the women's event on July 26 in Tokyo, Japan, after a delayed start caused by unfavourable weather conditions affecting the course in Tokyo Bay. Her victory also gives Bermuda the distinction of being the least populous country ever to win Olympic gold:
Hey <PERSON> I fixed it! Hail to Bermuda’s FIRST EVER Gold medalist #<PERSON>!! ???? #bermuda pic.twitter.com/WYiafq2M69
— ?BROOKESY? (@brookesymusic) July 27, 2021
<PERSON> completed the course in a time of 1:55:36. The two other medallists were Britain's <PERSON>, who finished a minute and 14 seconds behind <PERSON> to cop the silver medal, and American <PERSON>, who finished in third place with a time of 1:57:03:
She was over a minute ahead of second place✌️#floraduffy #OlympicGames pic.twitter.com/x2QkVKjxpC
— <PERSON> (@MrPandeyG) July 27, 2021
THAT REALLY JUST HAPPENED!!! ??????#floraduffy
— <PERSON> (@sgibbles11) July 26, 2021
In the midst of stormy conditions, <PERSON> remained steady throughout. She emerged from the swim leg among the first batch of competitors, and was among the first three at the end of the first lap of the bike stage. 482
By the second lap, she was leading the pack, and kept up a good pace throughout this stage of the race.
It was on the opening lap of the run, however, that <PERSON> really made a serious play for the win. She continued to push ahead on subsequent laps, continuously increasing the time gap between herself and her nearest competitors, and looking sure and strong as she crossed the finish line to give the country of her birth its first taste of Olympic gold medal glory:
<PERSON> you made Bermuda and all of us proud! What a fantastic ‘golden’ performance from start to finish. Congratulations! Amazing! #GoldMedal #floraduffy pic.twitter.com/8tgoGZXVmR
— <PERSON> ? (@Marietwit) July 27, 2021
On the other side of the world, her compatriots celebrated the significance of her win:
The sense of patriotism with #floraduffy today is amazing. We need to continue this to support all of our athletes as they work towards their Olympic goals.
— Catherine <PERSON>, JP (@catherine_kempe) July 26, 2021
In households across the island, air horns were being sounded in jubilation:
People in my neighbourhood are blowing their airhorns! We love to see it!!!!! #OlympicGames #FloraDuffy
??????????????????????
— <PERSON>?? (@Teela_Leeora) July 26, 2021
Anybody got an air horn???#GoFloraGo #floraduffy #Bermuda pic.twitter.com/QnxD1PsfBB
— <PERSON> (@FosterSkelton) July 26, 2021
Understandably, many Bermudians got emotional over the victory:
I’m not crying you are ??????????#floraduffy #bermuda #TokyoOlympics
— <PERSON> (@Keeby82) July 26, 2021
My kids got to witness history today. That's something I'll never forget. I wasn't alive to see <PERSON> win his bronze. But I'm so glad we got to witness this moment ??? #olympictriathlon #floraduffy
— <PERSON> (@jevon_5) July 27, 2021
<PERSON>, Bermuda's first Olympic medallist who took home a bronze medal in Boxing at the 1976 Montreal Games, said that <PERSON>'s triumph reignited his long-held faith in the potential of Bermudian athletes.
Meanwhile, a few social media users were inspired enough to compose songs (or at least play them):
?she’s a <PERSON> conqueror…? 482