Share

64-year-old swims to history

Miami - Diana Nyad swam into the history books Monday, completing a marathon three-day crossing from Cuba to Florida to become the first person to do so without a protective shark cage.

The 64-year-old American, who left a Havana yacht club early Saturday, arrived on a Key West beach to realize her lifetime quest after four previous attempts failed amid stormy weather and jellyfish attacks.

"I've got three messages," a visibly exhausted but clearly ecstatic Nyad told cheering crowds as she set foot on dry land.

"One is, we should never, ever give up. Two is, you never are too old to chase your dreams."

"Three is, it looks like a solitary sport but it's a team," Nyad added in a nod to the supporters who shadowed her as she braved the perilous waters.

Initially, the veteran swimmer had hoped to complete the treacherous 100-mile (160km) trek in 80 hours. But in the end, she did it in 52 hours, 54 minutes and 18.6 seconds, according to her Facebook page.

"Diana Nyad, 64, has successfully and powerfully realized her #XtremeDream," the posting said.

"Her eyes burned with intensity, her body refusing to quit."

Nyad's pursuit was followed closely by people around the globe, who took to social media to first encourage and then congratulate her.

Even the White House, preoccupied with the conflict in Syria, tweeted on behalf of President Barack Obama: "Congratulations to @diananyad. Never give up on your dreams."

Live television footage showed crowds swarming the beach and even wading toward Nyad as she approached the shore.

But challenges loomed large during the historic crossing -- especially on the homestretch.

Doctors -- monitoring Nyad from support boats shadowing her -- reported early Monday that her tongue and lips were so swollen that her speech had become slurred.

She also experienced extreme cold overnight, they said.

As Nyad approached Key West, large jellyfish appeared in her path. To keep her from suffering a debilitating sting, divers swam ahead of Nyad looking for more.

In a display of endurance and spirit, Nyad had actually increased her average speed to 1.76 miles per hour Sunday after more than 24 hours in the water.

When necessary, Nyad wore a full-body suit. She also had a specially designed prosthetic face mask as well as gloves and shoes at her disposal to protect herself from jellyfish stings.

A year ago, Nyad ended her fourth bid to cross the stretch after battling lightning storms and blooms of jellyfish for more than two days.

Her first attempt was in 1978, when she was 28.

Nyad set an open sea record for both men and women by swimming from the Bahamas to the Florida Keys in 1979 -- a journey that is about the same distance as the Cuba-Florida swim, but which she has described as far less dangerous.

At a news conference on Friday, the veteran expressed confidence that she would persevere this time around.

She said her dream of 35 years also sought to bring communist Cuba and the United States -- which have been at odds for decades -- closer together.

Australian Susan Maroney was the first person to swim across the Florida Straits. Protected by a shark cage, she did so in 1997 when she was 22.
We live in a world where facts and fiction get blurred
Who we choose to trust can have a profound impact on our lives. Join thousands of devoted South Africans who look to News24 to bring them news they can trust every day. As we celebrate 25 years, become a News24 subscriber as we strive to keep you informed, inspired and empowered.
Join News24 today
heading
description
username
Show Comments ()
Voting Booth
Should Siya Kolisi keep the captaincy as the Springboks build towards their World Cup title defence in 2027?
Please select an option Oops! Something went wrong, please try again later.
Results
Yes! Siya will only be 36 at the next World Cup. He can make it!
25% - 1273 votes
No! I think the smart thing to do is start again with a younger skipper ...
29% - 1473 votes
I'd keep Siya captain for now, but look to have someone else for 2027.
45% - 2251 votes
Vote
Editorial feedback and complaints

Contact the public editor with feedback for our journalists, complaints, queries or suggestions about articles on News24.

LEARN MORE