HAVANA — Endurance athlete Diana Nyad forged ahead through the Straits of Florida with renewed vigor Sunday in pursuit of a record 103-mile unassisted open-water swim without the aid of a shark cage.
The 62-year-old Los Angeles woman was said to be comfortable, confident and steady at about 50 strokes per minute after a harrowing night of painful jellyfish encounters — despite a new and improved body suit she hoped would offer better protection.
Nyad was stung four times during the night on the neck, lips, hand and forehead, according to members of her 50-member crew who updated fans through social media.
“Today is more like swimming,” one member quoted her as saying, via Twitter. “I don’t know what you would call last night … probably surviving.”
Nyad, who turns 63 Wednesday, is making her third attempt since last summer at a cageless crossing of the Straits of Florida. She also made a failed try with a cage in 1978.
At 24 hours into the swim, Nyad had traveled 23.9 miles from Havana.
