Olympics-Defending triathlon champion Flora Duffy in race against time

FILE PHOTO: Commonwealth Games - Triathlon - Women's Individual Sprint Distance Final - Sutton Park, Birmingham, Britain - July 29, 2022 Bermuda's Flora Duffy crosses the line to win the women's individual sprint distance final REUTERS/Stoyan Nenov

STELLENBOSCH, South Africa (Reuters) - Olympic triathlon champion Flora Duffy returns after an 18-month injury layoff this weekend but faces a race against time to be ready to defend her crown in Paris.

The 36-year-old became Bermuda’s first gold medallist in a comprehensive win at the Tokyo Games but a knee injury has kept her from competing since she won a second successive world title in late 2022.