64-Year-Old Diana Nyad Completes 110-Mile Swim From Cuba To Florida
Fifth time's the charm! Nyad becomes the first person to complete the non-stop swim without a shark cage.
This is U.S. swimmer Diana Nyad. Today, on her fifth attempt, she completed a grueling 110-mile swim from Cuba to Florida.
Ramon Espinosa / AP
Last time she attempted it, she got stung by jellyfish and had to abandon the swim. Here she is reenacting the jellyfish attack.
Ramon Espinosa / AP
The three-day, non-stop journey began in Havana on August 31st.
YAMIL LAGE / Getty Images
She disembarked from the Ernest Hemmingway Nautical Club.
YAMIL LAGE / Getty Images
Making things even riskier for endurance athlete, she made the swim without a shark cage.
Ramon Espinosa / AP
Aside from the sharks, Nyad had to be wary of the man o'wars, the storms, the waves and the powerful and unpredictable Gulf Stream.
ENRIQUE DE LA OSA / Reuters
Nyad had kayak escorts as she approached Key West, Florida earlier today.
Andy Newman / AP
Her crew was nearby in a boat for the duration of a the trip. Here they are rooting her on less that two miles from shore.
Andy Newman / AP
"This is a lifelong dream of mine and I'm very very glad to be with you," she told her crew, which they promptly blogged.
Andy Newman / AP
"So let's get going so we can have a whopping party."
Andy Newman / AP
Large crowds gathered in Key West to greet her.
Hundreds waiting to greet @diananyad right now #xtremedream @nbc6
Julia Bagg NBC 6
@JuliaBaggNBC6
Hundreds waiting to greet @diananyad right now #xtremedream @nbc6
And she made it!
She is here! @diananyad #xtremedream come true @nbc6
Julia Bagg NBC 6
@JuliaBaggNBC6
She is here! @diananyad #xtremedream come true @nbc6
As she was being taken away on a stretcher, her face sunburned and her lips swollen from a protective mask, Nyad was heard to tell supporters, "Never, ever give up."
Nyad now being hauled off on a stretcher #xtremedream @nbc6
Julia Bagg NBC 6
@JuliaBaggNBC6
Nyad now being hauled off on a stretcher #xtremedream @nbc6
-
Gavon Laessig is a deputy news director and front page editor for BuzzFeed News and is based in New York.
Contact Gavon Laessig at gavon@buzzfeed.com.
Got a confidential tip? Submit it here.
