Diana Nyad: Swimming the Dream

Diana Nyad : Swimming the Dream

Breaking news:

Diana Nyad is swimming from Cuba to Key West. This page was originally created for her 2010 attempt but will be updated with news on her 2011 attempt as it happens.

In 1979, Diana swam the more than 100 miles from the island of Bimini to Florida, setting a distance record.

Over thirty years later, at the age of 61, she plans to attempt another amazing feat: the 103-mile swim from Cuba to Florida - a swim she was unable to complete in 1978 and in 2010 because of rough weather.

To view more photography of Diana's DREAM expedition, go to www.thelegacyboutique.com.

Diana Nyad is one of those people that you have a hard time believing really exist. For 10 years, between the age of 20 and 30, Diana was one of the greatest long-distance swimmers in the world. Some of her swims were more than 30 continuous hours -- never once coming out of the water to eat or sleep. She swam around the island of Manhattan setting a record, she also swam more than 100 miles from the island of Bimini to Florida. In spite of all these accomplishments Diana has always been haunted by a failed attempt to swim from Cuba to Florida in 1978. The waters were too rough and she went wildly off course. After that she left the water for good.

Diana is now 61 and she is now attempting to accomplish the one thing that has eluded her - a 103 mile continuous swim from Cuba to Florida. And this time she'll do it without a shark cage.

Aging can do funny things to people. It can give you that deadline that you never felt you had before. Aging can also give you something to prove.

As an aging athletic person myself, I think it's more inspiring to be a superior athlete at 61 than a champion at 20. At 61 you're competing against time and inevitability. For Diana, even before she sets foot in Cuba, I think she's already won this competition.

-Jennifer Ferro KCRW General Manager

Diana's Mission

None of us can go back in our lives and relive periods we think we could have done better. And no athlete, especially, can go back and capture that one moment he or she always dreamed of achieving.

I broke many records in my prime as a long-distance swimmer back in the 1970’s, in my twenties. For my world record—102.5 continuous miles from the Bahamas to Florida in 1979—and other swims, such as breaking the 50-year-old mark for circling Manhattan Island, many Halls of Fame have honored me. I had a stellar athletic career and achieved my dream of swimming the farthest openwater swim in history. Yet my dream of swimming from Cuba to Florida was dashed in 1978, after fighting stiff winds and huge seas for 41hrs, 49 mins, and still not reaching the Florida coast.

The Earth is four-fifths water. I could plan a 100-mile swim just about anywhere. But I’ve already swum 100 miles. What I didn’t do was the swim I invented, Cuba to Florida. >more

Real-Time Map of Diana's Progress

2011

News Coverage

AUG 9, 2011 - CNN
Diana Nyad back in U.S. after abandoning Cuba to Florida swim

AUG 8, 2011 - CBS NEWS
Diana Nyad braves sharks to inspire seniors with marathon swim

AUG 8, 2011 - HAVANA TIMES
Cuba Press on Swimmer's Quest for USA

JUL 19, 2011 - NPR
At 61, Nyad Resurfaces for Cuba To Key West Swim

JUL 18, 2011 - THE NEW YORK TIMES
Ready to Swim 103 Miles With the Sharks

JULY 13, 2011 - HUFFINGTON POST
Long Distance Swimmer Diana Nyad Talks Achieving Your Goals At Any Age

JULY 08, 2011 - WBUR
Swimmer Diana Nyad Plans 103-Mile Cuba to Florida Swim

MAY 25, 2011 - WASHINGTON POST
Diana Nyad, at age 61, prepares for second attempt to swim from Cuba to Key West

MORE INFORMATION:
Diana Nyad Xtreme Dream

2010

Past Shows

THU JUL 29, 2010
The Score - Diana Nyad's Dream, Part 3
While Diana Nyad is deeply involved in preparations for her current expedition, in lieu of her regular commentary she will doing weekly Q&A updates with our own Matt … >more

THU JUL 22, 2010
The Score - Diana Nyad's Dream, Part 2
While Diana Nyad is deeply involved in preparations for her current expedition, in lieu of her regular commentary she will doing weekly Q&A updates with our own Matt … >more

THU JUL 15, 2010
The Score - Diana Nyad's Dream, Part 1
While Diana Nyad is deeply involved in preparations for her current expedition, in lieu of her regular commentary she will doing weekly Q&A updates with our own Matt … >more

THU JUL 8, 2010
The Score - 24 Tough Hours
Think of me this Saturday morning, in the early dawn hours, if you will. I'll be somewhere out in the ocean, about 45 miles south of Key West, beginning a 24-hour … >more

TUE JUL 6, 2010
Politics of Culture
On July 10, at the age of 60, legendary open-water swimmer Diana Nyad, host of KCRW’s The Score, will attempt to complete her first marathon swim in over three decades, … >more

SAT AUG 23, 2008
Good Food
Diana Nyad talks about what to eat while swimming, while food scientist Michele Perchonok explains the challenges of preparing space food. >more

CNN Coverage 2010
Dr. Sanjay Gupta reports on Diana's Preparations to Swim 103-miles to Florida from Cuba