Rarely does Bermuda produce athletes capable of becoming the best in the world ? but in young triathlete Flora Duffy, local company CAPITAL G have identified an exception and will invest $10,000 in the teenager over the next year.

Duffy stunned the world of triathlon in March when she emerged among the lead pack from the 1500 metres swim at the Melbourne Commonwealth Games, remained with the leaders on the bike and ultimately finished a highly impressive eighth overall just behind some of female triathlon's biggest names.

Widely regarded as a future star of the sport, Duffy's next target is to qualify for the Beijing Olympics in 2008 and has a busy schedule of races before her as she attempts to secure the requisite number of International Triathlon Union points.

CAPITAL G's money will help to cover the expense of wide-ranging travel, which will take her to ITU World Cup races in England, Germany and China, as well as the World Triathlon Championships in Switzerland in September.

CAPITAL G president James Gibbons also revealed yesterday that the sponsorship would increase by another $2,500 if she started to produce the top class performances that are expected from her in the not too distant future.

"Sponsoring Flora is a great opportunity for us to help a young Bermudian reach the pinnacle of a sporting competition," he said. "She is certainly not a stranger to us, however, as I have presented her with winners medals at every CAPITAL G Iron Kids Triathlon race that she has competed in from the ages of seven through 14 ? making her the only female athlete to have won her age group for eight consecutive years.

"We wish her the very best in her competitions this year."