Diana Nyad

Diana Nyad, an author, journalist, motivational speaker, and long-distance swimmer achieved a significant milestone on September 2, 2013, when she swam from Cuba to Florida, becoming the first person to accomplish this feat. Her record-breaking swim spanned 110.86 miles and took 52 hours, 54 minutes, and 18 seconds to complete.

Nyad has been a prominent sports journalist for over thirty years, contributing to National Public Radio, The New York Times, and other publications. She became a nationwide sensation in 1975 when she swam 28 miles around the island of Manhattan in just under 8 hours, breaking a 48-year-old record. She has authored four books, including "Other Shores," "Basic Training for Women," "Boss of Me: The Keyshawn Johnson Story," and "Find a Way," which received global acclaim.

In addition to her writing and swimming accomplishments, Nyad is known for her captivating public speaking abilities. She has filled theater seats with her one-woman play, “The Swimmer,” at the renowned off-Broadway Minetta Lane Theater. She also co-founded BravaBody, a company providing online exercise advice to women over 40. She reached a broader audience as the host of the public radio program "The Savvy Traveler" from 2001 to 2004 and as a contributor to shows like "CBS News Sunday Morning" and "Dancing with the Stars."

Nyad's life and achievements have inspired many, including filmmakers. Her 2013 feat and partnership with Bonnie Stoll were dramatized in the 2023 film "Nyad," which starred Annette Bening in the lead role. Bening's portrayal of Nyad earned her an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress. Nyad's swim was also the subject of a short documentary, "Diana," by WIGS in 2012.

Nyad has continued to inspire and motivate many through her nationwide walking initiative, EverWalk, which she launched along with her friend and Cuba Swim expedition leader, Bonnie Stoll. EverWalk aims to encourage Americans to embrace a healthy and active lifestyle. This initiative subsequently launched OceansCommit, which aims to reduce single-use plastic by hosting walks along shorelines.

Nyad's contributions to the world of sports and her perseverance have been recognized with several accolades. She has been inducted into the International Women’s Sports Hall of Fame and the International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame, among other Halls of Fame, and received the first ESPN Sports Science Newton Award and the L.A. Sports Council's Athlete of the Year award.

Today, Nyad continues to be an influential figure, using her platform to advocate for LGBTQ rights, having openly shared her sexual orientation and experiences with childhood sexual abuse. She has also used her experiences to support victims of Hurricane Sandy, raising funds through her "Swim for Relief" event in 2013.