The defending world champion, Flora Duffy, has revealed that she is currently rehabilitating a knee injury that she sustained last year.
In an Instagram post, she revealed the she is enjoying a slower start to the year. As part of that process, she will not be racing at WTCS Abu Dhabi. This approach explains why she was not on the start list while some of her rivals to the WTCS title were.
The main information she shared, though, pertained to a knee injury that she suffered in 2022. At this point the exact nature of the injury is unclear. Duffy’s form at WTCS Hamburg and the Commonwealth Games in July and then at WTCS Bermuda and WTCS Abu Dhabi in November gave no indication of injury.
As such, hopefully the injury will not prove too burdensome on her season.
Injuries have dealt a series of cruel blows to Duffy in recent years. A foot injury waylaid much of her 2018 season while she also broke her hand in training in early 2020.
Later in 2020, she suffered a new injury that ruled her out of the Valencia World Cup. At the time, the injury was diagnosed as two cysts that were causing pressure and pain in the knee. Once the cysts were drained, Duffy was able to enjoy a relatively fast recovery window.
Given her recent history of cysts in the knee, there is a chance her latest knee injury is a repeat, although at this point that is pure speculation.
With five further WTCS events plus the Paris Olympic Test Event available prior to the WTCS Final in Pontevedra, Duffy will have ample opportunity to score the points she needs this season.
A slow start and a completed rehab of the knee might set her up perfectly for a big push up the Series rankings later this summer.
