It's Nyad not Naiad
September 2, 2013 7:16 AM   Subscribe

64-year old distance swimmer Diana Nyad is back in the water again - and is just a few miles from completing the Cuba to Florida swim that has eluded her in several well-publicized attempts. (Previously, previously and previously.) Nyad's swim has already broken the Cuba to Florida distance record (for swimming without a shark cage). "You're never too old to chase your dream," Nyad has stated, while also noting that much of her earlier swimming career was motivated by anger at sexual abuse she suffered at the hand of a coach.
posted by BlahLaLa (62 comments total) 14 users marked this as a favorite
 
Go Diana! This woman is one of my favorite athletes, and I hope that this is finally her year. What an incredible human being.
posted by Scientist at 7:30 AM on September 2, 2013 [3 favorites]


I'm happy for her and all, but the fact that she's doing this voluntarily, with a massive support team, contrasts sharply with the many refugees who have died attempting this swim out of necessity.
posted by Optamystic at 7:31 AM on September 2, 2013


From the CNN article: The only concern is that she is throwing up everything she eats.

Wow. As if the psychological torture of 30 hours of swimming weren't enough, I don't think I'd have the mental fortitude to keep going while getting sick. I hope she makes it this time.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 7:34 AM on September 2, 2013


Also, not to rain on anyone's parade, but she's still got ~10 miles to swim through shark-infested waters, so I don't know if I'd pop open the champagne just yet.
posted by Optamystic at 7:38 AM on September 2, 2013




I'm confused. As far as I know there aren't a lot of refugees trying to swim from Cuba to Florida. I know that some people try to swim from boats but that's not the same thing.
posted by rdr at 7:43 AM on September 2, 2013 [1 favorite]


After the first few times she tried, I was all "OK, you failed, give it up now" but I'll be damned if I'm not pulling for her. She just simply refuses to give up and I admire that.
posted by KevinSkomsvold at 7:44 AM on September 2, 2013 [1 favorite]


It is also interesting to me that she's wearing a specially made mask this time. If you're already "cheating" a little, why not also wear a wet suit, etc.?
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 7:45 AM on September 2, 2013


so I don't know if I'd pop open the champagne just yet.

"Wet blanket" seems to apply here quite well.
posted by Celsius1414 at 7:46 AM on September 2, 2013 [4 favorites]


Per NBC:

If she keeps up her pace, she could reach Key West between 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. Monday, having swum more than 110 miles.
posted by Ber at 7:51 AM on September 2, 2013


roomthreeseventeen: "It is also interesting to me that she's wearing a specially made mask this time. If you're already "cheating" a little, why not also wear a wet suit, etc.?"

She said she didn't want to wear the silicone mask - which is to protect her face from jellyfish - because it slows her down and makes it harder for her to breathe.
According to this article, there is also a jellyfish protection suit she is wearing at times.
posted by Dr. Zira at 7:51 AM on September 2, 2013


What's cheating about the mask?

I think I'm remembering from one of her previous attempts that a wetsuit is not a good idea in this instance because although it provides some protection from jelly fish, it also makes her too hot.
posted by rtha at 7:52 AM on September 2, 2013 [1 favorite]




The Sports Illustrated article from '71 is excellent. They have a quote from her coach who says the word quit is not in her vocabulary. I wonder if they are still alive and what they would say now. That's like Professor Shiller saying the housing market is going to crash any day now.
posted by bukvich at 8:09 AM on September 2, 2013


Two miles to go! She's done 101 miles so far!
posted by mochapickle at 9:09 AM on September 2, 2013 [4 favorites]


I always liked her as a public radio host and journalist. I was surprised to learn a few years ago that she is also such a tremendous athlete. I'm glad she has kept at this.
posted by Area Man at 9:29 AM on September 2, 2013


The trailer for her film "The Other Shore" is outstanding.

I've been following her on Twitter and her website all morning, and it looks like CNN might actually be covering her arrival on shore, now estimated to be around 2pm EDT. Sad that this doesn't have bigger coverage in the media. We could use a good human-interest story right about now.

Here's a thank-you blog post from her team, posted at the 2-miles-left mark:
Well, Diana Nyad's only failure today was her inability to make it to 50 hours without a big chat. That's a long time not to talk for an extrovert like Diana, so 49 hours and 40 minutes into the swim with two miles to go as the crow flies, Diana called all five boats together in a circle around her and treaded water. She wanted to tell us something:

"Hi everybody," she said, apologizing first for any lack of clarity in her articulation. "I have some bad abrasions in my mouth from the jellyfish mask, so excuse me if I have trouble talking."

And then she proceeded to have no trouble talking.

Looking around at us as we bobbed on the boats, she said: "I am about to swim my last two miles in the ocean. This is a lifelong dream of mine and I'm very very glad to be with you. Some on the team are the most intimate friends of my life and some of you I've just met. But I'll tell you something, you're a special group. You pulled through; you are pros and have a great heart. So let's get going so we can have a whopping party."

"Thank you, all of you, thank you for your generosity."
posted by flyingsquirrel at 9:50 AM on September 2, 2013 [9 favorites]


Jesus. What happened to pulling weeds, knitting sweaters and renting a cottage on the Isle of Wight?

Older people these days, I tell you. Do they have no shame in undertaking feats of endurance and showing up people a quarter their age?
posted by MuffinMan at 10:07 AM on September 2, 2013 [3 favorites]


It's the front-page story on CNN right now... she is amazing. Watching the live feed on CNN is almost as tense as watching Felix jump off of his little spaceship! (Which, I also would have missed if it wasn't for Metafilter).

Go Diana!!
posted by Fig at 10:12 AM on September 2, 2013


The farthest I've ever swam in a single go was a single mile and then of course swim practices are often a lot more than a mile, but I cannot even fathom what it must be like to swim 100 miles in the open ocean. Not to mention that she is attempting to do it again after failing several times. What an incredible person.

Go Diana, go go Diana!!!
posted by A Bad Catholic at 10:20 AM on September 2, 2013


It's Nyad not Naiad

I sea what you did there.
posted by BrotherCaine at 10:22 AM on September 2, 2013 [1 favorite]


Thank you, Fig! I had to click a couple of links - the continuous video feed is here (no audio), but all I can make out is a bunch of boats at the moment.
posted by amtho at 10:34 AM on September 2, 2013


This is a better live feed, with audio and all
posted by Fig at 10:36 AM on September 2, 2013 [1 favorite]


Almost there! Boats and people bobbing around her! Go go go!
posted by mochapickle at 10:46 AM on September 2, 2013


OMG i'm so irritated by all these randoms on boats and rafts and jet skis getting so close to her.
posted by misskaz at 10:47 AM on September 2, 2013 [1 favorite]


For the live feed on CNN.
posted by bilabial at 10:47 AM on September 2, 2013


Damn, shes still swimming next to people that are standing. Hardcore.
posted by Fig at 10:48 AM on September 2, 2013 [1 favorite]


I want her to crawl up on the shore, like our primordial ancestors... She's amazing.
posted by mochapickle at 10:49 AM on September 2, 2013 [3 favorites]


What is wrong with all these people getting in her way?! Also, it kind of looks like she's swimming across the shore not into the shore. Must be a trick of perspective.
posted by Joh at 10:51 AM on September 2, 2013 [2 favorites]


For the love of God someone take that kayak paddle away from that kid before he clocks her!
posted by kimberussell at 10:51 AM on September 2, 2013 [3 favorites]


The masses of people with iPhones held aloft are crazy annoying.
posted by Fig at 10:52 AM on September 2, 2013


Yeah, they really should have had a roped off finish line for her, esp for something that makes history like this.
posted by mochapickle at 10:52 AM on September 2, 2013 [2 favorites]


(the doggie on the skimboard was cute, though)
posted by kimberussell at 10:53 AM on September 2, 2013 [2 favorites]


I know I will think of this when I think I just can't do one more dumb lap. On CNN they mentioned she sings "Ticket To Ride" to keep pace, which sounds like a good tip.
posted by Room 641-A at 10:53 AM on September 2, 2013 [1 favorite]


I guess she.. made it?
posted by amtho at 10:54 AM on September 2, 2013


Yeah, the CNN camera is now in the wrong spot - and still no audio. Her twitter feed says she's almost there.
posted by ThatCanadianGirl at 10:55 AM on September 2, 2013


You had ONE job, CNN camera operator!
posted by kimberussell at 10:55 AM on September 2, 2013 [6 favorites]


Looks like all the news organisations missed it, seriously??
posted by Erasmouse at 10:56 AM on September 2, 2013


Well at least there will be a bunch of vertical iPhone footage.
posted by Erasmouse at 10:56 AM on September 2, 2013 [4 favorites]


It sounds like she made landfall a couple of hundred feet up from where they expected her, so they had to move all the barricades. She was also ahead of schedule, which I think threw off the reporters.
posted by flyingsquirrel at 10:56 AM on September 2, 2013 [3 favorites]


Cheers to you, Diana, and your relentless pursuit! I am going for a run now.
posted by mochapickle at 10:56 AM on September 2, 2013


My dude is telling me to stop complaining about the free web video.
posted by amtho at 10:56 AM on September 2, 2013 [1 favorite]


Ah, that makes sense.

Fantastic job , Diana!!!! You absolutely nailed it. Get some well-earned rest.
posted by Fig at 10:59 AM on September 2, 2013


Her twitter feed says she made it!
posted by ThatCanadianGirl at 10:59 AM on September 2, 2013


Yaaaaaaay anyhow! What an inspiration! On her FIFTH attempt! I give up halfway through most of my first attempts at anything!
posted by Erasmouse at 11:01 AM on September 2, 2013


Wikipedia's already updated. Interesting. I can still see no news coverage, though.
posted by amtho at 11:02 AM on September 2, 2013


Without MeFi I'd have never seen this. Thank you, BlahLaLa.
posted by kimberussell at 11:04 AM on September 2, 2013 [4 favorites]


I too caught this just in time. Thanks for posting it!
posted by Songdog at 11:05 AM on September 2, 2013


I haven't seen any footage or photos of her walking ashore - not on CNN, NBC, Twitter, Instagram. If anyone finds anything, please post, because I'd really love to see that.
posted by flyingsquirrel at 11:06 AM on September 2, 2013 [1 favorite]


Now CNN's live web feed has nonstop coverage of a bikini-clad tourist vogueing and talking on a cell phone. Journalism's finest moment, NOT.
posted by flyingsquirrel at 11:08 AM on September 2, 2013




OK I went back for the verbatim quotation:

Buck Dawson, says: "I've never known Diana Nyad to back down, to admit she was wrong about anything, even when she was."
posted by bukvich at 11:11 AM on September 2, 2013


I presume she's being told by the person on the other end that she's an Internet star.

Someone must have photographed it for posterity.
posted by Wrinkled Stumpskin at 11:11 AM on September 2, 2013 [1 favorite]


She had better be the badass of the week.
posted by TedW at 11:51 AM on September 2, 2013


She had better be the badass of the week.

I'd say she's in the running for finalists as badass of the year.

It's amazing to me that I went about my life on a whole long weekend...worked much of Saturday, tried to sleuth a friend's lost iPhone, slept two relatively full nights, worked on some photography, watched a few episodes of House of Cards, went for a couple of walks, read a fair amount AND THIS WOMAN WAS SWIMMING THAT WHOLE TIME.
posted by nevercalm at 11:55 AM on September 2, 2013 [5 favorites]




Sad that this doesn't have bigger coverage in the media.

but easy to see why, after cutting it short 3 times in recent years.

Each of those cut-short attempts was absolutely magnificent, of course, but us USians don't like losers.

I been pulling for her each time (that I knew about, didn't hear about this one until yesterday), and I am very happy she finally made it. This way at least we can be pretty sure she won't die at sea in a sixth attempt.
posted by lodurr at 3:45 PM on September 2, 2013


An apt title.
posted by hal at 4:54 PM on September 2, 2013


I rode the bike out to Smathers Beach this afternoon, but crowds fueled by Labor Day visitors were already creating a mob scene at 12:15. I came back home rather than fight it.

About seven tonight, I was sitting out on the deck when this rainbow appeared, and looked from here like it terminated just about where she came out of the water. Seemed fitting.
posted by halfbuckaroo at 6:28 PM on September 2, 2013 [2 favorites]


I think we can retire the cliche "without a net" and replace it with "without a shark cage"...
posted by oneswellfoop at 10:08 PM on September 2, 2013


I learned about this on Facebook as it was happening. How's that for social media? (A reporter for the Key West Citizen was tweeting and posting on FB -- tomorrow her story will be in that perfect little small town daily.)
posted by Anitanola at 11:47 PM on September 2, 2013


An apt title.

Just to be an annoying pedant, Naiads are freshwater, Oceanids or Nereids are seawater.
posted by BrotherCaine at 11:06 AM on September 4, 2013


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