Diana Nyad Completes Cuba to Florida Swim

A weary, triumphant Diana Nyad, 64, arrived in Key West, Florida, on Sunday to become the first person ever to swim from Cuba to Florida without the aid of a shark cage. Nyad, a journalist and former champion squash player, has attempted the crossing four times previously, starting in 1978. During her attempts she has been stung repeatedly by man-o-war and box jellyfish, and been buzzed by sharks.

This spring she was named one of Outside’s Adventurers of the Year. Monday’s successful 110-mile crossing took her 53 hours. “I have three messages,” Nyad said in Key West. “One is, we should never, ever give up. Two is, you’re never too old to chase your dream. Three is, it looks like a solitary sport, but it is a team.”      

Read more about Diana Nyad, one of our Adventurers of the Year.