63-year old woman attempts to swim from Cuba to FL, makes it halfway before quitting
Even marks the second attempt for endurance swimmer Diana Nyad

Posted Tuesday, August 9, 2011

 
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53 miles short of her goal of swimming from Havana, Cuba to Key West, Diana Nyad, endurance swimmer gave up on her dream due to a prolonged asthma attack that lasted 11 hours while attempting a world record. Not only did she suffer from the asthma, she also was repeatedly stung by jellyfish along the route, and plagued by 4 to 5 foot swells, which according to the Miami Herald, are huge for a swimmer.

Nyad still chalks up the attempt as a success, because she tried and that is what counts. To be certain, swimming for 29 hours straight, for 58 miles in the Caribbean sea is quite an accomplishment in itself, and our hats are off to Ms. Nyad.

To read more about her dream and the people that helped her along the way, check out this article in the Miami Herald:

http://www.miamiherald.com/2011/08/09/2352403/nyad-ends-2nd-attempted-swim-from.html