Diana Nyad: The Journey Of A Legendary Marathon Swimmer

Diana Nyad had already secured her reputation as one of the greatest marathon swimmers in the world, and she had nothing to prove to anybody—except herself. A member of the U.S. National Women’s Sports Hall of Fame and the International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame, Nyad has set several records for both men and women throughout her distinguished career. She gained nationwide recognition when she set a world record by swimming around Manhattan in less than eight hours in 1975.

However, one of her most ambitious goals remained unfulfilled for years: swimming straight from Cuba to Florida without a protective shark cage. This dream was realized in 2013 when, at 64 years old, she successfully completed the grueling 110-mile swim after 53 hours of nonstop swimming.

Finding an Escape in Swimming

Born on August 22, 1949, in New York City, Diana was the daughter of a New York stockbroker. Her parents divorced when she was just three years old, and her mother later remarried, which led to Diana being adopted by her stepfather, Aristotle Nyad. The family eventually moved to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, where at the age of 11, Diana began to swim seriously, as noted in the book Great Women Athletes of the 20th Century by Robert J. Condon.

As a teenager, Nyad attended Pine Crest School in Fort Lauderdale, where she was trained by Olympian and Hall of Fame swimming coach Jack Nelson. Unfortunately, she later revealed that Nelson had begun to molest her at the age of 14 and continued to do so until her graduation. The anger and desire to overcome this abuse fueled her determination in swimming, and she often expressed feeling safe in the water.

Nyad quickly became a champion swimmer, winning three Florida state high school championships in the backstroke. She had dreams of competing in the 1968 Summer Olympics. However, in 1966, a rare heart infection called endocarditis forced her to spend three months bedridden, and when she returned to the pool, she had lost the speed she needed to qualify for the Olympics.

Gaining National Fame

With her Olympic dreams dashed, Nyad shifted her focus to marathon swimming, seeking guidance from Buck Dawson, director of the International Swimming Hall of Fame, at his camp in Magnetawan, Ontario. She made a remarkable debut in long-distance swimming, setting a women’s world record in her first race in 1970 by completing a 10-mile swim in Lake Ontario in 4 hours and 22 minutes. This was the beginning of many records she would set throughout her career.

In 1974, she completed the 22-mile Bay of Naples race in 8 hours and 11 minutes, further establishing her legacy. The following year, Nyad captured national attention when she swam around Manhattan in 7 hours and 57 minutes, breaking the world record by an astounding 59 minutes. After finishing, she confidently told reporters, “I knew I’d make it. I feel very proud. It’s not easy to swim around this island.”

Despite her successes, Nyad still struggled to achieve her long-time goal of swimming from Cuba to Florida without a protective shark cage. Her first attempt in 1978 at the age of 28 saw her swim 68 miles before strong winds forced her to stop. Over the next several years, she made three more unsuccessful attempts.

Going for Her Goal, then Facing Critics

On her 30th birthday, Nyad swam 102 miles from Bimini in the Bahamas to Juno Beach, Florida, in 27 hours and 30 minutes. This incredible feat set a distance record for both men and women in nonstop swimming. However, this was the last competitive swim of her career until 2013 when she made her fifth attempt to swim from Cuba to Florida.

Nyad began her 110-mile swim from Havana, enduring shark- and jellyfish-infested waters for 53 hours. Despite facing severe winds and vomiting several times after swallowing seawater, she succeeded in becoming the first person to complete this swim. Yet, her achievement was met with criticism regarding her methods and adherence to traditional swimming rules.

Critics noted that Nyad didn’t follow the English Channel rules, which state that an unassisted swimmer can only use a cap and goggles without any physical contact. To protect herself from jellyfish stings, Nyad used a specialized suit and mask, which required assistance from her support team to put on and remove during the swim. This led to incidental contact, raising questions about the legitimacy of her swim.

Moreover, inconsistencies in her pace raised eyebrows among critics. Some suggested that favorable currents influenced her speed, while a lack of independent observers and incomplete records further complicated the issue. Ultimately, the swim has never been formally ratified, and the Guinness Book of World Records does not recognize Nyad’s achievement.

In an interview with The Los Angeles Times in August 2023, Nyad expressed her belief that they had provided sufficient proof for her swim. She acknowledged that perhaps she had too much hubris in thinking she didn’t need to prove herself further. However, she emphasized that there was no intention to obfuscate the rules.

A 2022 report by the World Open Water Swimming Association alleviated some concerns from her critics, stating, “There’s no evidence there was any kind of cheating,” according to Evan Morrison, co-founder of the Marathon Swimmers Federation. He added that, based on current standards in the sport, Nyad had indeed completed an assisted swim from Cuba to Florida, and she would accept it being recognized as such.

Despite the ongoing controversy, Nyad’s journey serves as a powerful lesson in determination and resilience. Nancy Jordan, a pilot on one of Nyad’s support vessels, stated, “Diana shows that at any age, you can do whatever you want. That’s what she set out to show: Don’t ever give up on your dream.”

Watch Nyad on Netflix

The inspiring story of Diana Nyad is now streaming on Netflix. The film, titled Nyad, stars Annette Bening as the titular swimmer, with Jodie Foster portraying her longtime friend and coach, Bonnie Stoll. Directed by Elizabeth Chai Vasahelyi and Jimmy Chin, the movie is based on Nyad's memoir, Find a Way, which details her remarkable journey and the challenges she faced along the way.

As viewers delve into this captivating film, they will witness the trials and triumphs of a woman who dared to dream big and refused to let age define her capabilities. The cast also includes Rhys Ifans, Karly Rothenberg, and Jeena Yi, making it a must-watch for anyone inspired by stories of perseverance and courage.