Diana Nyad, 64, Became First Woman to Swim Across Florida Straits without Shark Cage

Diana Nyad, 64-year old American long-distance swimmer became the first person to cross Florida Straits from Cuba without any shark cage on 2 September 2013. This was her fifth attempt to cross the 110-mile (177-km) distance.

Diana Nyad completed the 110-mile or 177-km distance. She departed from Havana on 31 August 2013. With this, she now has the record of the longest ocean swim without a shark cage. Diana Nyad was trying to cross the ocean since 35 years. The expedition was referred to as the Xtreme Dream by her.

Other elders who created the records

• In the year 2012, Jamie Moyer, Colorado Rockies player at the age of 50 years now, became the oldest pitcher in Major League Baseball history to win a game.
• In the 2012 Toronto Marathon, Canadian Ed Whitlock, now 82, created the record when he ran in the Marathon in 3 hours 30 minutes.
• In the year 2008, Dana Torres at the age of 41 years became the oldest American female swimmer to win an Olympic medal.

What benefited Diana Nyad?

• Diana Nyad had various crucial factors that supported her. Some of these included lack of jellyfish in the ocean, calm seas and favourable currents in Gulf Stream.
• She was accompanied by a team of ocean kayakers as well as the divers.

Who is Diana Nyad?

• Diana Nyad was born in New York.
• She is a multilingual woman raised in South Florida.
• At the age of 12 years, she swam for six hours every day.
• In the year 1979, she successfully completed a swim from Bimini in the Bahamas to Florida. After this she retired from her career.
• She has several other records to her credit which also includes circling Manhattan in less than eight hours, in the year 1975.
• It is important to note that the Florida Straits has also been conquered two times earlier, but it was with the help of protective cage.