Diana Nyad is an American long-distance swimmer and journalist, famous for her open-water crossings over very long distances. In 2013, at the age of 64, she became the first person to swim from Cuba to Florida without a shark cage.
Diana Nyad(1949 — ?)
Diana Nyad
États-Unis
5 min read
Frequently asked questions
Famous Quotes
« Never, ever give up.»
« You're never too old to chase your dreams.»
Key Facts
- Born on August 22, 1949, in New York, United States
- In the 1970s, she set several open-water swimming records (a swim around Manhattan Island, a crossing to the Bahamas)
- On September 2, 2013, at the age of 64, she completed the Cuba-to-Florida crossing (about 177 km) by swimming without a shark cage, after four failed attempts since 1978
- Her achievement made her a worldwide symbol of perseverance and pushing beyond one's limits
Works & Achievements
A roughly 45 km swim around Manhattan in under 8 hours, which brought her to the attention of the American public.
An open-water distance record without a shark cage, roughly 165 km, which stood as a benchmark for a long time.
The first person to swim from Cuba to Florida without a shark cage, at age 64, after five attempts.
An autobiographical book recounting her crossings and her philosophy of perseverance.
After her athletic career, she worked for American media outlets as a columnist and commentator.
A widely viewed talk in which she shares her message of perseverance drawn from her Cuba crossing.
Anecdotes
In 2013, at the age of 64, Diana Nyad finally succeeded in swimming from Havana to Key West, a distance of roughly 180 km, after four unsuccessful attempts. She swam for nearly 53 hours without stopping and emerged from the water shouting her motto to the crowd: “Find a way.”
During her early Cuban attempts, Diana Nyad was severely stung by box jellyfish, among the most venomous animals in the world. For her successful try, her team designed a silicone mask and a full-body suit that protected her from the tentacles, but which injured her mouth and slowed her down.
Her surname, Nyad, resembles the Greek word “naiad,” the water nymphs of mythology. Her stepfather is said to have pointed out to her as a child that her name destined her to swim — a coincidence she often recounted.
In 1975, Diana Nyad swam around the island of Manhattan in nearly 8 hours, a roughly 45 km route through the rough and polluted waters of New York, which made her famous in the United States.
After her 1979 record, Diana Nyad gave up competition for more than thirty years before resuming training in her sixties to fulfill her Cuban dream, proving that you can take on great challenges at any age.
Primary Sources
“I have three messages. One is, we should never, ever give up. Two is, you're never too old to chase your dreams. Three is, it looks like a solitary sport, but it takes a team.”
In it, Diana Nyad recounts in detail her five attempts to swim from Cuba to Florida and the philosophy of perseverance summed up by her motto “Find a way.”
In this talk, Nyad looks back on her crossing and argues that success comes from determination and teamwork, not talent alone.
Key Places
Diana Nyad's birthplace and the site of her famous swim around the island of Manhattan in 1975.
Starting point of her attempts to swim across to Florida, including her successful crossing in 2013.
The finishing point of her historic 2013 crossing, where she walked out of the water to the cheers of the crowd.
The Florida city where she grew up and took up competitive swimming.
Starting point of her record-setting 1979 crossing to Florida, about 165 km without a shark cage.
Typical Objects
Full-face mask designed to protect her face and mouth from box jellyfish stings during the 2013 crossing. Uncomfortable, it injured her lips and gums.
Full-body suit made of thin fabric covering the entire body to avoid contact with the venomous tentacles of the box jellyfish found in tropical waters.
Basic equipment for the long-distance swimmer, essential for protecting the eyes from salt during dozens of hours in the water.
Cap worn to reduce resistance in the water and retain a little warmth during long crossings.
The team's vessel that followed the swimmer to resupply her, guide her, and protect her from sharks using electronic devices.
Device emitting a field designed to keep sharks away, used instead of a metal cage to validate the crossing as “cage-free.”
School Curriculum
Vocabulary & Tags
Key Vocabulary
Tags
Daily Life
Morning
During her years of preparation, Diana Nyad began with long swimming sessions at dawn, in the ocean or in a pool. Endurance training took up much of the morning, under the watchful eye of her coaches.
Afternoon
The afternoon was devoted to strength training, stretching, and recovery. She also worked with her team on the logistics of the crossings: currents, weather, resupplying, and safety.
Evening
In the evening, she planned routes with navigators and doctors, and mentally prepared for her challenges. A music lover, she would sing hundreds of songs to herself to keep her rhythm during the long swims.
Food
To sustain an effort lasting dozens of hours, she followed a diet very rich in energy. In the middle of a crossing, her team resupplied her in the water with energy drinks, gels, and liquid foods to avoid stopping.
Clothing
In training, she wore a classic swimsuit, cap, and goggles. For jellyfish-infested waters, she had to add a full-body suit and a protective silicone mask.
Housing
An American, she lived between New York, Florida, and California. During the crossings, she lived for a few days on the support boats, as close to the sea as possible.
Historical Timeline
Period Vocabulary
Liens externes & ressources
Références
Œuvres
Tour de l'île de Manhattan à la nage
1975
Traversée Bimini (Bahamas) – Floride
1979
Traversée Cuba – Floride sans cage
2013
Find a Way (mémoires)
2015
Carrière de journaliste et commentatrice sportive
années 1980-2000
Conférence TED « Never, ever give up »
2013
