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.
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, a name synonymous with unyielding determination and indomitable spirit, is a true embodiment of the human potential to overcome seemingly insurmountable challenges.
Her remarkable journey to become the first person to swim from Cuba to Florida without a shark cage is a testament to her unshakable resolve, resilience, and a lifelong commitment to pushing the boundaries of what the human body can achieve.
Diana Nyad’s early life was marked by a passion for swimming. At the age of 10, she began competitive swimming and quickly distinguished herself as a talented and driven athlete. Her love for the water was nurtured by her parents, who saw her potential and encouraged her to pursue her dreams. Nyad’s early experiences in the pool laid the foundation for her future accomplishments as a long-distance swimmer.
In her teenage years, Nyad’s talent continued to shine, and she competed at the national level in the United States. She became the national champion in the 200-meter backstroke, and her achievements in the pool were indicative of her extraordinary endurance and love for the water. However, as Nyad approached adulthood, she began to feel a desire to explore more than just the confines of a swimming pool. This restlessness led her to embark on a new adventure that would eventually become her life’s defining journey.
Diana Nyad’s ambitious dreams extended beyond the confines of competitive swimming. In her early 20s, she decided to explore long-distance open water swimming, a grueling and demanding discipline that required an entirely different set of skills and mindset. Her transition from the controlled environment of a pool to the unpredictable and often perilous waters of the open sea marked a pivotal moment in her life.
25 million people worldwide rooted for Diana Nyad as she reached the Florida shore, at long last achieving her 35-year-old quest of becoming the first person to swim from Cuba to Florida.
Speaking the words “Never Ever Give Up” to the wildly cheering crowd on a Key West beach on September 2, 2013, Diana demonstrated to the world the power of the human spirit.
Diana’s amazing record: 110.86 miles in 52 hours, 54 minutes, 18 seconds.
A prominent sports journalist, filing over thirty years for National Public Radio, The New York Times, and others, Diana has earned her place as one of our compelling storytellers. Her memoir, Find a Way, has earned worldwide praise. Her groundbreaking OpEd piece on her childhood sexual abuse for The New York Times drew a passionate response from around the world.
Also a uniquely entertaining and inspiring public speaker, Diana Nyad has now fulfilled another lifelong dream, bringing her performance of her play “The Swimmer” to the storied off-Broadway Minetta Lane Theater. The show played to sold-out crowds in September 2019.
Diana’s best friend and Cuba Swim expedition leader Bonnie Stoll have further collaborated with their nationwide walking initiative EverWalk, sparking America to become a nation of walkers.
And EverWalk in turn has recently launched yet another initiative, Oceans Commit, hosting walks along our shorelines, asking individuals and businesses to reduce single-use plastic.
Diana Nyad has been inducted into the International Women’s Sports Hall of Fame, the International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame, among other Halls of Fame, and awards of distinction.
President Obama invited Diana to congratulate her in the Oval Office and then asked her to accompany him on his peace visit to Havana in 2014.
Oprah Winfrey chose Diana’s interview for her SuperSoul Sunday broadcast to be the first to extend to two hours.
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Dawn Dickson is a serial entrepreneur and inventor with over 20 years of experience in technology and business development. She has founded six successful cash flow positive companies since 2001, including Flat Out of Heels (2011) and PopCom (2017) and has successfully exited one company (Lifestyle Cafe, 2021). She is the first female founder globally […]
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Elyse Archer is a renowned international speaker celebrated for her transformative insights into personal branding, sales, and leadership. With a dynamic presence and a unique ability to connect with diverse audiences. Her engaging style and compelling storytelling captivate listeners, leaving them inspired and equipped with practical strategies to elevate their careers and lives. From her […]
Wendee Lee Curtis is a seasoned Broadway performer turned motivational keynote speaker, emcee, and moderator. With over a decade of experience captivating audiences, Curtis has brought her powerful stage presence, magnetic charisma, and expertise in corporate communications to Fortune 500 companies worldwide. A favorite among industry giants such as Eli Lilly, Pfizer, Roche, and CrowdStrike, […]
Jeanette Andrews is hailed as one of the most innovative illusionists in the world today and has staged hundreds of sold-out and standing-room-only performances for Fortune 500 companies, theaters and universities including Infiniti, Kraft, Thermo Fisher Scientific, Lyric Opera & Chicago Ideas Week. She has presented commissioned and site-specific works for The Smithsonian’s Cooper Hewitt, […]
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