“Nyad became the first person to swim
from Cuba to Florida without a protective cage, willing her way to a Key West
beach just before 2 p.m. eastern time, nearly 53 hours after jumping into the
ocean in Havana for her fifth try in 35 years,” stated CNN news.
Diana Nyad first four tries were “gut- wrenching
setbacks.” She first tried when she was
29, and accomplished her dream at 64.
At one point, she began heaving and
shivering from over exposure to salt water.
To help her relax, she sang lullabies to herself. Nyad was slurring her speech because her
tongue and lips were so swollen. “Nyad
said you have push away Cuba with one hand and pull Florida closer with the
other hand,” said CNN news.
“YOU ARE
NEVER TOO OLD,” says Nyad.
There were
several people in kayaks and boats following Nyad to cheer her on and make sure
she was safe. When she was finished,
there were many people on shore cheering her on.
Her face
was swollen and sunburnt. Nyad pumped
her fist as she waited for the medics to take her to the ambulance.
"It's all authentic. It's a great
story. You have a dream 35 years ago -- doesn't come to fruition, but you move
on with life. But it's somewhere back there. Then you turn 60, and your mom
just dies, and you're looking for something. And the dream comes waking out of
your imagination," Nyad said.
Next month, Nyad plans to attempt a 48
hour swim in New York. All profits will
be going to help people rebuild what hurricane Sandy destroyed.
~Alex Warner~
(@shmalex_warner)
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