Sports minister Sylvan Richards has extended his congratulations to Flora Duffy for her performance today in the Olympics.

In a statement, Mr Richards said Duffy had been “magnificent” to finish in the top ten in the women’s triathlon in Rio de Janeiro.

“I am incredibly proud of Flora,” he stated.

“I watched on the edge of my seat as she swam, cycled and ran her way around the course showing incredible endurance and spirit and finishing eighth overall.

“Flora is an example to all of our aspiring young athletes that despite coming from a small island in the middle of the Atlantic; we can compete on the world stage against the best of the best.

“Indeed, Flora has competed all over the world and made her mark on this sport long before Rio, competing in Sweden, Canada, USA, Australia, England, Italy, South Africa and Hawaii, to name a few of the places her career as an athlete has taken her.

“Her performance has been truly superb, with her love of sport and her passion for triathlon in particular propelling her to many great achievements.

“Flora has made us all proud and I am very much looking forward to congratulating her in person upon her return.”

Mr Richards extended congratulations to all Bermuda’s athletes who competed in the Games.

“I had the pleasure of cheering on many of them in person and I couldn’t have been more proud of them. A huge congratulations to long jumper Tyrone Smith, sailors Cameron Pimentel and Ceci Wollmann, swimmers Julian Fletcher and Rebecca Heyliger, rower Michelle Pearson and sprinter Tre Houston.”