Endurance swimmer Diana Nyad, 61, attempted to become the first person to swim 103 miles between Cuba and Florida without a shark cage. Her efforts ended unsuccessfully at 12:45 a.m. Tuesday.
After boarding a boat early this morning Nyad said, “I am not sad. It was absolutely the right call.”
After training for two years for the event, Diana struggled with ocean swells, shoulder pain and asthma before ending the attempt after 29 hours in the water. During that time she was able to consume food and water but was not permitted to touch the nearby boats traveling with her.
CNN reported that she was supported by a team of 30 people, including 10 handlers who surrounded her in kayaks that were pulling devices that repel sharks. A dive team also swam along with the group, trained to distract sharks that were not turned away by the other measures.
This is Nyad’s second attempt at the Havana to Key West trek. Her first attempt, in 1978, ended after nearly 42 hours and 76 miles traveled. During that attempt she was protected by a 20 x 40 foot steel shark cage.
Diana did set a record the following year for her 102.5 mile swim from the Bahamas to Florida. The successful 1979 trek lasted 27 and one-half hours thanks to favorable winds and a following seas.
After more than 30 years away from competitive swimming, Diana recently estimated that the cost of the undertaking will come in at about $500,000.
So why did she try it after all these years? Nyad believes that “60 is the new 40.” We think she rocks!
Watch video of Diana as her trek ended: