Many incredible, talented individuals have broken the world record of distance swimming. One distance swimming record breaker from the 1970s is Diana Nyad. Her influential journey and success stories have been a motivation for this generation and the next generation. On behalf of Vlineperol, I am going to share some unknown facts about this distance swimmer’s epic journey.
In this article, we will explore Diana Nyad’s journey as a swimmer and how she crossed the sea from Cuba to Florida. Also, discover her lifelong achievements and accolades below. So, let’s get started.
Life Before Record Breaker Swim
Before jumping straight into her epic journey, let’s unveil Nyad’s early life story. Diana Nyad was born on August 22, 1949. She also came from a well-known family background as her grandparents were popular for their great inventions. She started her swimming career under the tutelage of Olympian and Hall of Fame coach Jack Nelson.
In an interview, she said that Nelson molested her for years until she graduated from high school. Later she found out that another girl who was also getting swimming training, was also molested by Nelson. Those two complained to the headmaster but no serious action was taken.
Diana won two championships at Florida State High School in the backstock at 100 yards. From the start of her career as a distance swimmer, she dreamed of participating in the 1968 Summer Olympics. Unfortunately, the great warrior had to spend three months in bed with endocarditis in 1966. Diana Nyad soon came to the attention of Buck Dawson who introduced her to the marathon swimming. From here, her career as a distance swimmer and world record breaker has started.
Career and Journey As a Swimmer
Distance Swimming in the 1970s
In the 1070s, Nyad gained many achievements in swimming championships. She set a women’s record in 1974 for 8 hours and 11 minutes in a 35 km race in the Gulf of Naples. At the age of 26, the champion swimmer swam 45 km in just 8 hours breaking the 48 years of record.
Diana Nyad attempted to swim from Havana on August 12 1978. She dove into the ocean at 2 p.m. from Ortegosa Beach where she swam inside a 20-by-40-foot shark cage for gnarly about 42 hours. The team of doctors then removed Diana on August 15. Strong wind slammed her against the cage and pushed her towards Texus but not in a straight line. Of course, she failed the attempt.
In 1979, Nyad had her last competitive swim until 2013. She set a world record for distance swimming for both males and females by swimming 164 km from the Bahamas to Florida. She swam 6 km per hour on average and completed the swim in almost 27 1⁄2 hours.
Cuba to Florida in 2011-2013
In early January 2010, Diana Nyad started training for the swim from Cuba to Florida. It has a distance of 180km which is almost equivalent to five English Channel via the Strait to Dover. On July 10th she reserved a 35-foot fishing vessel to take her out to sea where she jumped into the ocean to begin swimming.
In June 2011 she again started her staining and waited for ideal weather. On August 7th 2011, Nyad got ready for a straight 30-hour swin but failed due to shoulder pain. During that time the swimmer nearly died due to jellyfish strings. Her enthusiasts heard a rumour and got curious about how did Diana Nyad die. After several attempts from 2011 to 2013, Nyad created a world record for crossing Cuba to Florida.
Accolades
Here are some awards that praised her distance swimming journey:
- Diana Nyad received the Jack LaLanne Award.
- She was also awarded the first “ESPN Sports Science Newton Award” for Outstanding New Limit.
- The swimmer was named one of “National Geographic’s Adventurers of the Year”.
- Nyad is a bronze plaque honoured for ending the Cuba to Florda swim.
Controversies and Personal Life
A controversy was raised about Diana Nyad’s 2013 Cuba to Florida swim. WOWSA declined to offer Guinness World Records. In the meantime, Diana Nyad wife also faced several rumours on her personal life. We can say that the great warrior had a hard time throughout her epic journey.
Conclusion
We can conclude that Diana Nyad was an ambitious woman who was devoted to her targets and passion. In this modern culture, she is an icon of inspiration to many women. Her achievements reflect her dedication to creating world records. The epic journey is a story about how a woman can again wake up at the age of 60 and realize that she is not finished yet. We hope this story has inspired you to achieve your dreams. Follow up with Vlineperol to get more inspirational stories.
