Diana Nyad, 61, Ditches Cuba-Florida Swim

Strong winds, currents force her to abandon record bid after 29 hours
By Rob Quinn,  Newser Staff
Posted Aug 9, 2011 3:21 AM CDT
Updated Aug 9, 2011 4:31 AM CDT
Diana Nyad Abandons Cuba to Florida Swim
American endurance swimmer Diana Nyad , 61, swims in Cuban waters on Sunday.   (AP Photo/Franklin Reyes)

Some 33 years after huge waves foiled her first attempt, marathon swimmer Diana Nyad has again been forced to abandon a Cuba-to-Florida swim. The 61-year-old athlete, who was attempting to become the first person to complete the 103-mile swim without a shark cage, was pulled from the water after making it nearly halfway through the journey, CNN reports. Nyad said strong winds and currents that blew her off course played a role in her decision to abandon the swim after 29 hours. "I am not sad," she said. "It was absolutely the right call." (More Diana Nyad stories.)

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