American Diana Nyad 61 and swimming Cuba to Florida

[Steve19]

Making a statement for fitness (BB73 says he'd, oh nevermind), Diana Nyad is attempting the first swim from Cuba to Florida without a shark cage.

Diana Nyad's personal test has begun. At 7:45 p.m. ET she jumped into the water and began her 103-mile swim between Cuba and Florida.

"I'm almost 62 years old and I'm standing here at the prime of my life," she said as she walked toward the sea. "I think this is the prime. When one reaches this age, you still have a body that's strong but now you have a better mind."


Nyad did a few stretches and played reveille, the traditional Army wake-up song, on a bugle before she dived in. (link)

You can track her progress here. (link)

 

[Steve19]

She's about 1/3 of the way there.

 

[Chewbacca]

Go sharks

 

[Wingate1217]

From a CNN reporter's tweet taken about an hour ago....

Almost 20 miles off the Cuban coast now... @diananyad still swimming strong - a few shoulder pains, but all is well!

 

[Steve19]

Vomiting, being pushed off course at 15mph by a side current, and still having shoulder problems, she stopped halfway.

Sorry that she didn't make it, but a 50 mile swim over the age of 60 must be some kind of world record?

 

[ScriptOhio]

FOX Sports: She's 64 years old and can kick your butt (OK — kick pretty much anybody's butt)

http://msn.foxsports.com/other/stor...r-nears-cuba-to-key-west-historic-goal-090213

'Never, ever give up:' Diana Nyad completes historic Cuba-to-Florida swim

On Monday, Nyad became the first person to swim from Cuba to Florida without a protective cage, willing her way to a Key West beach just before 2 p.m. ET, nearly 53 hours after jumping into the ocean in Havana for her fifth try in 35 years.

http://www.cnn.com/2013/09/02/world/americas/diana-nyad-cuba-florida-swim