Diana Nyad finishes her epic Cuba to Florida swim

[Jwolf]

http://www.ctvnews.ca/sports/diana-nyad ... -1.1436654

Awesome!! She's 64 years old, too. This was her fifth try and the first time anyone has done it without a shark cage.

When she finished, she said:

"I have three messages. One is we should never ever give up. Two is you are never too old to chase your dreams. And three is it looks like a solitary sport but it takes a team."

[purdy65]

I've been following her all day. A hero of mine since 1975. She has put my head in an entirely different space with this accomplishment.

To be honest , I was really starting to think this swim was impossible. She sure showed everyone. Including her many detractors.

[drghfx]

I saw she was trying this again and really watched her alot closer the last 24 hours. I had never heard of those box jellyfish until I read her blog on Saturday. Boy, those are nasty jellyfish and they will chase you down to sting you.

Well done to Diana! That's quite an accomplishment!

[La]

Great accomplishment! I can't imagine 53 hours in the water - and salt water, at that!

I really need to remind myself not to read the comments section of on-line news stories... what a bunch of boobs.

[scrumhalfgirl]

"I have three messages. One is we should never ever give up. Two is you are never too old to chase your dreams. And three is it looks like a solitary sport but it takes a team."

love those!

[ian]

Very impressive, especially to keep trying after such bitter disappointments in previous attempts. My hunch is that this was such a difficult achievement that there may not be further attempts for some time, as the usual incentives (being the fastest, youngest, etc.) will not be enough to justify the danger or expense.

[AjaxRunner]

Very impressive, especially to keep trying after such bitter disappointments in previous attempts. My hunch is that this was such a difficult achievement that there may not be further attempts for some time, as the usual incentives (being the fastest, youngest, etc.) will not be enough to justify the danger or expense.

Sounds there are a few people questioning if she really did what she said she did.

[purdy65]

Meh - Haters will hate. The questioning was bound to happen.

Still an achievement I won't forget.

[jonovision_man]

Meh - Haters will hate. The questioning was bound to happen.

When someone puts a claim out that evidence suggests isn't entirely true, then it's fair to question without being labeled a "hater" IMO. But I was a Lance "hater" before it was cool too, so...

jono

[purdy65]

OK,

Maybe haters was a bit harsh. It was inevitable, though that there would be questions about the feat. It's not diminished in my mind. She also has said she will address all questions.

[ian]

Meh - Haters will hate. The questioning was bound to happen.

When someone puts a claim out that evidence suggests isn't entirely true, then it's fair to question without being labeled a "hater" IMO. But I was a Lance "hater" before it was cool too, so...

jono

The questions seem reasonable but I'm also satisfied by the answers given both by the team and the neutral observers/consultants mentioned in the story.

[Spirit Unleashed]

Very impressive, especially to keep trying after such bitter disappointments in previous attempts. My hunch is that this was such a difficult achievement that there may not be further attempts for some time, as the usual incentives (being the fastest, youngest, etc.) will not be enough to justify the danger or expense.

Sounds there are a few people questioning if she really did what she said she did.

[Jwolf]

Very impressive, especially to keep trying after such bitter disappointments in previous attempts. My hunch is that this was such a difficult achievement that there may not be further attempts for some time, as the usual incentives (being the fastest, youngest, etc.) will not be enough to justify the danger or expense.

Sounds there are a few people questioning if she really did what she said she did.

http://www.nationalpost.com/m/wp/news/w ... to-florida

[AjaxRunner]

Very impressive, especially to keep trying after such bitter disappointments in previous attempts. My hunch is that this was such a difficult achievement that there may not be further attempts for some time, as the usual incentives (being the fastest, youngest, etc.) will not be enough to justify the danger or expense.

Sounds there are a few people questioning if she really did what she said she did.

http://www.cbc.ca/sports/story/2013/09/08/sp-swimming-diana-nyad-open-water-swim-cuba-florida.html

[jonovision_man]

The questions seem reasonable but I'm also satisfied by the answers given both by the team and the neutral observers/consultants mentioned in the story.

They sound plausible. I think a lot of questions are coming from those in their "marathon swimming" community, for whom this accomplishment is serious business - it's authenticity is important to them.

jono

[ian]

I think a lot of questions are coming from those in their "marathon swimming" community, for whom this accomplishment is serious business - it's authenticity is important to them.

The perspective of this marathon swimming community is interesting and relevant, but the key word of your post is business. Think of how much harder it's going to be for some of these people to get the sponsors and volunteers needed to take on future challenges. Conversely, if Nyad had come up short again or had been gobbled up by a shark, her loss would have been the rest of the community's gain. It's really a sort of zero-sum game and I'll be taking that into account when evaluating the various accusations.

[turd ferguson]

The questions seem reasonable but I'm also satisfied by the answers given both by the team and the neutral observers/consultants mentioned in the story.

They sound plausible. I think a lot of questions are coming from those in their "marathon swimming" community, for whom this accomplishment is serious business - it's authenticity is important to them.

jono

What is the Cross-Fit community saying?

[Doonst]

What is the Cross-Fit community saying?

[Spirit Unleashed]

Sour grapes.

[Jwolf]

One thing they marathon swim community is saying is that she didn't follow English Channel rules. But she never intended to.

It's a pretty small community- too bad they can't find a way to be more supportive.

[jonovision_man]

The questions seem reasonable but I'm also satisfied by the answers given both by the team and the neutral observers/consultants mentioned in the story.

They sound plausible. I think a lot of questions are coming from those in their "marathon swimming" community, for whom this accomplishment is serious business - it's authenticity is important to them.

jono

What is the Cross-Fit community saying?

"53 hours? With Cross-Fit training she could have cut that in half!"

jono

[Jo-Jo]

One thing they marathon swim community is saying is that she didn't follow English Channel rules. But she never intended to.

It's a pretty small community- too bad they can't find a way to be more supportive.

Agree.
My suggestion: any of those marathon swim naysayers...go jump in the water and swim that same route with no "protective gear" and have fun with the jelly fish.
Agree with Spirit...sour grapes.

[jonovision_man]

My suggestion: any of those marathon swim naysayers...go jump in the water and swim that same route with no "protective gear" and have fun with the jelly fish.

I think they have reason to point out that her accomplishment has some caveats, just like she won't acknowledge the previous individual who did it with a shark cage. We all know wetsuits aid with buoyancy, therefore it's not the same as doing it without one.

Yet her team spokesperson said:

The elaborate, full-body suit and protective mask Nyad wore to protect herself from venomous jellyfish actually weighed her down, Munatones said.

Maybe if they were just forthright about the accomplishment rather than trying to B.S. their way through elements of it they wouldn't be getting criticism.

jono

[Jo-Jo]

My suggestion: any of those marathon swim naysayers...go jump in the water and swim that same route with no "protective gear" and have fun with the jelly fish.

I think they have reason to point out that her accomplishment has some caveats, just like she won't acknowledge the previous individual who did it with a shark cage. We all know wetsuits aid with buoyancy, therefore it's not the same as doing it without one.

Yet her team spokesperson said:

The elaborate, full-body suit and protective mask Nyad wore to protect herself from venomous jellyfish actually weighed her down, Munatones said.

Maybe if they were just forthright about the accomplishment rather than trying to B.S. their way through elements of it they wouldn't be getting criticism.

jono

Agree with your comment about caveats...so let's see someone offer to do it without protective gear...

[jonovision_man]

Agree with your comment about caveats...so let's see someone offer to do it without protective gear...

Jellyfish do it all the time!

jono