Find a Way

On September 2, 2013, Diana Nyad, at 64 years old, after 4 failed attempts and 35 years from her first attempt, swam from Cuba to Florida, accomplishing her life-long dream of swimming non-stop nation to nation. Due to forceful currents in the water, the 103 miles turned into 110 miles. It took her 52 hours and 44 minutes to reach her goal. Continually in the water, swimming across shark-and jellyfish infested waters, without the protection of a shark cage, at the final moment walking out of the water on the beach in Key West Florida, she spoke to an awaiting crowd and uttered these words; “I just want to say, number one, never, ever give up. Number two, you’re never too old to chase your dream, and number three, it looks like a solitary sport, but it’s a team.” In the movie, NYAD, Diana Nyad is portrayed as a persistent, dynamic, egocentric woman who would ‘find a way’ to get things done….no matter what. 

In an interview with Annette Bening, who played Nyad in the movie, I learned of Bening’s compelling decision to play the role.  At age 62, she began training with an Olympic swimming coach for the part. Stating she would not have had the ‘mindset’ had she been any younger to take on such a task. She wanted a challenge, something new, and she too would ‘find a way’ to get it done. 

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