City Hosts Events Honoring Diana Nyad

City Hosts Events Honoring Diana Nyad

The City of Key West was honored to host three events in commemoration of the 10-year anniversary of Diana Nyad’s historic swim from Cuba to Key West.

On Saturday, residents had the chance to meet with Nyad and her “Xtreme Dream Team” at Smathers Beach, the spot where Nyad — a celebrated author, journalist, motivational speaker, and long-distance swimmer — came ashore in September of 2013 after a grueling 110-mile swim across the Straits of Florida.

Saturday evening, Mayor Teri Johnston hosted a reception for Nyad and her team at City Hall. The following morning, the Turtle Hospital, with the help of Nyad and her coach and long-time friend Bonnie Stoll, released a rehabilitated turtle at the same beach location Nyad finished her swim.

Sunday afternoon the Tropic Cinema and Netflix hosted a showing of the film “Nyad” for the team, and Mayor Johnston and Bonnie Stoll held a question and answer period afterwards.

At age 64 and on her fifth attempt, Nyad became the first person to swim from Havana to Florida without a shark cage. She completed the almost 111-mile trip in 52 hours and 54 minutes.

Nyad first attempted the feat in 1978 at age 28. More than 30 years later she began training to try again, making two attempts in the summer of 2011 and another in August 2012.

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