Diana Nyad completes historic Cuba-to-Florida Swim

ScienceChic
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Mountain Champion

02 Sep 2013 12:16 #1 by ScienceChic

Diana Nyad completes historic Cuba-to-Florida Swim was created by ScienceChic

What an accomplishment!

http://www.diananyad.com/

Diana Nyad completes historic Cuba-to-Florida swim
By David Simpson, for CNN
updated 2:04 PM EDT, Mon September 2, 2013

Endurance swimmer Diana Nyad reached the shores of Key West on Monday afternoon, becoming the first person to swim Cuba to Florida without a shark cage. This was the 64-year-old's fifth attempt since 1978.

This is the farthest she or anyone else has gone without a shark cage, and the wear on her body was showing Monday morning. Around 7:30 a.m. ET Monday, she was slurring her speech because of a swollen tongue and lips, her support team reported on its website.

Nyad's home stretch followed an overnight in which she became so cold, the team didn't stop her for feeding until first light "in the hopes that swimming would keep her warm," the website said.

The Los Angeles woman has said this is her final attempt. She said on her website that she wants to prove "it's never too late to chase your dream."

"Now, more than ever, the illusions of division threaten our very existence. We all know the truth: more connects us than separates us. But in times of crisis the wise build bridges, while the foolish build barriers. We must find a way to look after one another as if we were one single tribe.” -King T'Challa, Black Panther

The truth is incontrovertible. Malice may attack it. ignorance may deride it, but in the end, there it is. ~Winston Churchill

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jf1acai
Mountain Legend

02 Sep 2013 14:04 #2 by jf1acai

Replied by jf1acai on topic Diana Nyad completes historic Cuba-to-Florida Swim

WOW!!

Experience enables you to recognize a mistake when you make it again - Jeanne Pincha-Tulley

Comprehensive is Latin for there is lots of bad stuff in it - Trey Gowdy

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FredHayek
Mountain Legend

02 Sep 2013 18:59 #3 by FredHayek

Replied by FredHayek on topic Diana Nyad completes historic Cuba-to-Florida Swim

Outstanding! This quest she has spent decades attempting and to do it at the age of 64 is awesome.

Thomas Sowell: There are no solutions, just trade-offs.

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pineinthegrass
Mountain Legend

02 Sep 2013 22:22 #4 by pineinthegrass

Replied by pineinthegrass on topic Diana Nyad completes historic Cuba-to-Florida Swim

That is super impressive!

I was thinking why did Cuba even allow her to do the swim from Havana to Florida in the first place, since it is kind of symbolic of someone trying to escape from the island (without having to float on a leaky boat made from the body of a '54 Chevy).

But then again, she failed a few times before, and maybe they just want to show how impossible it is to accomplish.

You have the unbelievable physical accomplishment of Nyad, then you have the sharks and jelly fish to beat. Plus you need the crew with you for protection and constant hydration along the way.

So while Nyad did something very special, I don't think anyone on the island will now think they can do it too.