Search
shop

Former Olympic champ out of T100 San Francisco – but new mum Lawrence dives back into the deep end

Flora Duffy has announced that she will miss the next T100 race due to injury - but Brit Holly Lawrence makes a welcome return
News Director
Last updated -
Get the ultimate guide to destination racing

Former Olympic champion Flora Duffy has been ruled out of T100 San Francisco due to injury.

But there’s a wildcard for the 2016 70.3 World Champion Holly Lawrence, who returns to action less than eight months after giving birth to her first child.

The event is the second of this year’s T100 Triathlon World Tour and both the women’s and men’s races take place on Saturday 31 May.

Advertisement

Achilles issue for Duffy

Bermudan superstar Duffy, who won Olympic gold in Tokyo in 2021, has already made her mark since moving up to middle distance.

She was third at T100 Lake Las Vegas last year and fourth in the finale in Dubai to finish fifth overall and earn a contract for 2025.

But she was a DNF in the T100 opener in Singapore, exiting the race midway through the bike section.

And posting on Instagram she revealed: “Unfortunately I’ve had to pull out of @t100triathlon SF due to an achilles injury. Really disappointed because I was looking forward to racing on this epic course!”

Flora Duffy Olympic Games Triathlon Paris 2024
Flora Duffy leads the field on the bike leg at Paris 2024 (Photo – Wagner Araujo, World Triathlon).

Duffy suffered a long-term knee injury which all but wiped out her 2023 season but she made it back in time for the 2024 Paris Olympics where she produced a masterclass in the swim, dealing with the strong currents brilliantly to lead out of the water before eventually finishing fifth to Cassandre Beaugrand.

And it’s likely that she would have been to the fore in San Francisco too, especially as the race begins with the athletes diving from a boat into choppy waters close to Alcatraz Island.

Lawrence building up to an Ironman

That start was referenced by Lawrence when she reacted to her wildcard, saying on Instagram: “Excited to jump off the boat in a couple of weeks.”

British star Lawrence, the 2016 World Champion and 17-time 70.3 winner, raced just once last season when she finished on the podium at T100 Miami shortly after finding out she was pregnant.

She gave birth to daughter Poppy last October and has since documented what she herself termed the “bumpy road back to racing after pregnancy”.

One big aim this season for her is a first full-distance race, with IRONMAN Lake Placid on July 20th pencilled in as she bids to qualify for Kona.

Holly Lawrence finished a fine third in Miami.
Holly Lawrence takes third at T100 Miami in 2024 [Photo Credit – PTO]
Jonathan Turner
Written by
Jonathan Turner
Jonathan Turner is News Director for both TRI247 and RUN247, and is accustomed to big-name interviews, breaking news stories and providing unrivalled coverage for endurance sports.  
Discover more
TRI247 podcast
What is it really like to be a professional triathlete? NEW TRI247 x Challenge Family podcast takes you beyond the start lines this race season
Challenge St. Pölten 2024 - image credit Jose Luis Hourcade / Challenge Family
Expert swim coach on the three most common swim mistakes age group triathletes make (and how to fix them!)
French Riviera T100 bike course Esterel
Let’s race… French Riviera T100
TRI-FIT VANGUARD tri suit review
The entry-level tri suit with a serious amount of performance for the price point – TRI-FIT VANGUARD review
Gustav Iden aero position body rocket
How to get better at holding your time trial position – Expert tips from former PRO time trial cyclist Alex Dowsett
latest News
Triathlon Show: London 2019 Brownlee brothers
“We better not f** this up”: Alistair Brownlee shares the message that inspired Olympic triathlon glory
Jess Learmonth run Challenge Barcelona 2024
IRONMAN 70.3 Nice: Start time and how to follow live as Jess Learmonth takes next step
Kristian Blummenfelt IRONMAN Frankfurt celebration 2024 Photo credit: Jan Hetfleisch/Getty Images for IRONMAN
IRONMAN Frankfurt: Date, start time and how to watch live as Blummenfelt and Lange head all-star triathlon cast
Patrick Lange IRONMAN World Championship Kona 2024 photo credit Getty Images for IRONMAN
IRONMAN World Champion Patrick Lange CONFIRMS big injury comeback this weekend
IRONMAN 70.3 Kraichgau 2024 - Jess Learmonth post-race
IRONMAN 70.3 Nice start lists announced as British Olympic superstar set for Riviera test
triathlon on your terms
Never miss out with our triathlon alerts & digest. Get a dose of adventure & inspiration with Boundless.
The 247 Group

The home of endurance sports

Share to...