Flora Duffy makes history again by adding third world title to Olympic gold
In adding the world championship to her impressive 2021 haul Flora Duffy becomes the first-ever triathlete to be crowned world and Olympic champion in the same year. Only hours later, Norway's Kristian Blummenfelt added the men's world title to his Tokyo gold.
Triathlon
Flora Duffy is now the owner of two major triathlon titles.
The Bermudan followed up her maiden Tokyo 2020 Olympic gold medal by winning the World Triathlon Championship Series (WTCS) on Saturday (August 21), and in doing so becomes the first triathlete ever to be crowned both world and Olympic champion in the same year.
The 33-year-old’s third place finish in the women’s WTCS Grand Final in Edmonton, Canada earned her enough championship points to win the title by some margin.
At the season’s end Duffy finished with 3,861 points; Taylor Knibb of America was behind her in second was 3,486 points.
Shortly after Duffy's historic win, Kristian Blummenfelt of Norway emulated the Bermudan by similarly adding a world title to his Tokyo 2020 gold medal.
A late surge by the 27-year-old over his rivals enabled him clinch the win in by a whisker. He crossed the line in 1:44:14 with Leo Bergere of France right behind him in 1:44:15.
It's been something of an impressive summer for both Blummenfelt and Duffy.
Duffy's win in Tokyo resulted in Bermuda's first ever Olympic gold medal, while Blummenfelt's victory was Norway's first ever in the event.
Additionally, in claiming a third women's WTCS title, Duffy also now equals the record for most world championships wins heralding her as one of the sport's most decorated athletes ever.