Flora Duffy has indicated that triathlon will become a full-time profession no matter how she performs at the Olympic event on Monday.

The 20-year-old, who has enjoyed and endured a mixed bag of results since bursting onto the international stage with an astounding eighth-place finish at the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne two years ago, has completed her studies at Kelly College in the south-west of England and now wants to take her triathlon career one step further.

The London Games in four years time remains the ultimate target but to get there she says she'll have to put everything else in her life to one side.

"2012 is still the goal. Triathlon is what I want to do. I've never wanted to get a proper job or anything else. I love riding my bike for a living and running and everything else that goes with it," she said before leaving the Games Village yesterday for a light training session.

As for her immediate plans, Bermuda's Female Athlete of the Year said: "I'm not sure. Everything's changing for me after this. I've been in England for four years and I think a change will help me to get back where I was in triathlon.

"I have a few ideas, but nothing I can say too much about now."

Bermuda, however, won't figure in those plans.

"It's too small for me to train," she explained. "Actually, I will be in Bermuda until about November, ticking over with training but I'm not planning to stay there."

Looking ahead to Monday's race - a 1.5 kilometre swim, 40 kilometre bike ride and 10 kilometre run - Duffy says she's feeling no pressure, having struggled in a number of international races this year.

"I don't have any expectations going into this. It just happens to be the Olympics, but for me it's just another race on the road to my comeback.

"You know, if I put in a good, solid performance, that'll be good. I'm not aiming for a top ten, a medal or anything like that. I just want a solid race that I'm happy with, whether that's top 30 or somehow if I slip into the top 20."

Strangely, running has been the main problem in the three-discipline sport for the multiple Front Street Mile champion.

Duffy hopes those troubles are behind her.

"My running has suffered this year because I've had so many injury problems and it's been hard coming back.

"That's the area that I've been concerned with. I just have to try and stay injury-free over the off-season and then put down a good base of running.

"But I feel good now. It's nice to be here, it's doesn't really quite feel like it's the Olympics. It's cool to see all the other athletes around. I get quite excited seeing all of the big names."

Supporting her at the Games are English-based coach Richard Brady, mother and father Charlie and Maria, and triathlon coach/manager Neil de ste. Croix who has watched Flora's progress for more than 10 years.

"It's her dream and I'm excited for her," said de ste. Croix.

"To see this young girl come to this, it's amazing. She's qualified in her own right which is a big thing to do. The last few years haven't gone brilliantly, so this is really a learning experience.

"As long as she has a good, solid race, that's the main thing . . . to finish the event and finish comfortably, that's very important.

"Running has been an issue. But she's proved she can run. It hasn't been where it needs to be. Her swimming is there, her biking is there, it's just a matter of putting it all together."