Diana Nyad

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5 out of 5

World Champion Swimmer & First Person to Swim from Cuba to Florida; Author, Sports Journalist & Broadcaster; Co-Founder, BravaBody & EverWalk

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Los Angeles, CA, USA
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Diana Nyad Biography

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.

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Speaker profile last updated by AAE Talent Team on 10/14/2024.

Diana Nyad Speaking Topics

  • What Swimming 110 Miles in Shark-Infested Waters Taught Me About Teamwork

    At the age of 64, Diana Nyad emerged onto the sands of Key West after swimming from Cuba to Florida in an epic feat of both endurance and human will.

    From the dedicated crew who navigated the waters to the expert nutritionists who fueled her body to the motivational coaches who kept her spirits high, Diana credits her success to the unwavering synergy of her team.

    In this conversation, Diana shares powerful examples of teamwork from her years-long pursuit of this goal while also discussing how to assemble a high-performance team and how to face challenges with a resilient mindset.

  • Never, Ever Give Up

    At age 60, having not swum a stroke in decades, Hall of Fame swimmer Diana Nyad began planning for her white whale of distance swims: the 110-mile ocean crossing between Cuba and Florida. She’d tried it once, in her 20s, and severe jellyfish attacks had defeated her then. With a new commitment to her vision, she attempted it again and accomplished this incredible feat 30 years after she failed to complete it before.

    In this moving conversation, Diana shows us that it is never too late to chase our dreams and shares the key steps we all need to take in order to accomplish our goals, no matter how big.

Diana Nyad Videos

  • NYAD | Official Trailer | Netflix
    Annette Bening, Jodie Foster, and Rhys Ifans star in NYAD to tell a remarkable true story of athlete Diana Nyad who, at the age of 60 and with the...
  • Diana Nyad | The High-Performance Teamwork That Helped Her Make History

Diana Nyad Books

  • Find a Way: The Inspiring Story of One Woman's Pursuit of a Lifelong Dream
    Find a Way: The Inspiring Story of One Woman's Pursuit of a Lifelong Dream
  • Boss Of Me
    Boss Of Me
  • Other shores
    Other shores

Speaker Lists Featuring Diana Nyad

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Diana Nyad is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics such as What Swimming 110 Miles in Shark-Infested Waters Taught Me About Teamwork and Never, Ever Give Up. The estimated speaking fee range to book Diana Nyad for your event is available upon request. Diana Nyad generally travels from Los Angeles, CA, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. Similar motivational celebrity speakers are Lisa Leslie, Bethany Hamilton, Shannon Miller, Jackie Joyner-Kersee and Dominique Dawes. Contact All American Speakers for ratings, reviews, videos and information on scheduling Diana Nyad for an upcoming live or virtual event.

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