A charity set up in the name of Olympic triathlon champion Flora Duffy to sponsor budding sports stars has been given $10,000 by a bank.

The cash was donated to the Flora Fund by Clarien Bank.

Ms Duffy said: “Looking back, as I cannot help but do this week, I’m overwhelmed by how many of the key pieces to my success, our success as Bermuda in winning an Olympic gold, were in place some 20 plus years ago.

“Kids’ triathlons need sponsors, volunteers and programmes developing kids – I’m grateful that was there for me growing up, allowing me to find my feet and set ambitious goals.”

She said Clarien had backed the Iron Kids Triathlon as well as the Flora Fund “since day one”, and thanked them for “investing in the island’s sporting stars of tomorrow.”

Michael DeCouto, the bank’s chief digital and marketing officer, said: “With so much celebration going on around the Island over the last two weeks in honour of Bermuda’s golden girl, Flora Duffy and her historic achievements in sport, Clarien wanted to do something special to show our support.”

He added Ms Duffy was a longstanding partner of the Iron Kids triathlon – an event she excelled at as a child.

Mr DeCouto said: “We have witnessed her hard work, determination and perseverance first hand over many years and are delighted to support the Flora Fund in its efforts to give back to the next generation of Bermuda’s athletic talent.”

The Flora Fund, launched in 2018 by Ms Duffy with the Bermuda Community Foundation, was designed to help established and aspiring athletes with equipment, training, fees, event registration and coaching.

The windfall marked Clarien’s third donation to the fund and came after yesterday’s public holiday to celebrate Ms Duffy’s gold medal win at the Tokyo Olympic Games in the summer.

Her Olympic triumph was followed by first place at the World Triathlon Championship Series in Montreal in August and the Super League Triathlon in Malibu last month.

Ms Duffy is the first triathlete to be crowned the World and Olympic Champion in the same year.

The Clarien Iron Kids event was cancelled this year and last year because of the Covid-19 pandemic.

But the bank said it looked forward to holding the event again in the near future.

Contributions to the Flora Fund can be made online through the Bermuda Community Foundation’s donation page or by completing a gift intention form.

More details are available from the Bermuda Community Foundation at 294-4959.