An elated Flora Duffy, Bermuda’s first Olympic gold medal winner, has described receiving a damehood in the Queen’s New Year’s Honours List as “surreal and special” to cap off a “beautiful” 2020. Duffy, 34, said she was surprised to be told that she would be recognised as Dame Commander of the British Empire for her services to sport in Bermuda. “I was told about five weeks ago as I prepared for my final race [of 2021],” Duffy, whose phenomenal career soared to dizzying heights last year, told the Royal Gazette newspaper on Monday. “It was really nice to hear that and very special to receive i…