SWIMMER ABANDONS CUBA TO FLORIDA CHALLENGE
Wednesday August 10th, 2011
SWIMMER ABANDONS CUBA TO FLORIDA CHALLENGE
A 61 year old swimmer has had to abandon her bid to become the first person to swim from Cuba to Florida without using a shark cage. Diana Nyad gave 29 hours into the expected 60 hour swim after struggling with shoulder pain, ocean swells and asthma.
Ms Nyad said, 'I am not sad, It was absolutely the right call.'
Ms Nyad had previously failed the 103 mile crossing in 1978 aged 28. It took over a year of negotiations to get permission off both countries for this latest attempt as the US and Cuba have no formal diplomatic relations.
The operation included support boats, a medical team, nutritionists and a shark protection team equipped with underwater electrical shark shields.
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