Strong Currents End Palfrey's Cuba-Florida Swim

Endurance swimmer Penny Palfrey has abandoned her effort to become the first woman to swim unassisted from Cuba to the Florida Keys, ending her odyssey after almost 41 hours in the water and about three quarters of the way through the more than 100-mile swim, her support team said early this morning. Previously, her personal best was 67 miles when she swam between Little Cayman and Grand Cayman islands last year.

The British-born Australian marathon swimmer halted her effort around midnight about 26 miles south of Key West because of a strong ocean current working against her, said a team member, adding, "she is fine." There were no further details on Palfrey's condition. Earlier in the day, Palfrey had been swimming steady and strong and reported no physical complaints other than jellyfish stings more than halfway into the swim. (More Penny Palfrey stories.)