Courtesy: Elizabeth Rosenthal Spencer
The City of Fort Lauderdale has honored world-renowned endurance swimmer Diana Nyad with a historic marker on the city’s Las Olas Beachfront, a location where Nyad’s connection with the ocean began as a child.
The marker was unveiled at a ceremony on November 6 to celebrate Nyad’s legendary 110-mile swim from Havana, Cuba, to Key West, a feat she accomplished at age 64, after a 35-year pursuit. She successfully completed the journey on September 2, 2013, after swimming for approximately 53 hours.
Tennis legend Chris Evert, along with Nyad’s family, friends, and members of her expedition team, were in attendance, along with local dignitaries, to share in the commemoration.
“Diana Nyad’s story reminds us that determination knows no limits,” said Fort Lauderdale Mayor Dean J. Trantalis. “Her courage and perseverance have inspired people across the world — and it’s especially meaningful that her journey began right here in Fort Lauderdale, where our community continues to celebrate those who dare to dream big.”
“This is not just my story,” said Nyad. “It’s the story of a team that never gave up, of a community that believed in the impossible, and of a city that shaped my dreams from the very beginning.”
L-R: Dr. Lynette Long who sponsored the historic marker, Nyad’s former coach Bonnie Stoll, tennis legend Chris Evert, Diana Nyad, Fort Lauderdale Commissioner Steven Glassman, Fort Lauderdale Mayor Dean Trantalis — at the unveiling of Nyad’s Historical Marker. Photo: City of Fort Lauderdale
Endurance Swimmer Diana Nyad at her newly unveiled Historical Marker on Fort Lauderdale’s beachfront. Photo: City of Fort Lauderdale
ABOUT ELIZABETH SPENCER ROSENTHAL
Elizabeth Spencer Rosenthal is a wife and mother of 3 from Miami. She is a passionate swim mom, volunteer and meet official, with a professional background in marketing and public relations. She holds a degree in Public Communication from American University, and loves finding a story to tell.
Interesting article. It’s about a community awarding something special to Diane Nyad. This event was real, whether she “deserved” this recognition was not the point! Some people felt she deserved this, and so went out of their way to honor her. The article is well written and the photos help tell the story of this award. The controversy was not part of the article – just the award happening.
Ahhhhh, the Lance Armstrong of swimming.
Mercedes Gleitze dealt with a fraudster in 1927, dove back in to prove herself, and built the verification standards that would’ve saved everyone from the Diana Nyad headache—but rules only work when people actually follow them: https://www.openwaterswimming.com/live-discussion-the-true-story-behind-vindication-swim-and-the-birth-of-channel-rules/
Just read about her to get some info and i hope the sign is washed away
Nyad’s Marker’s a travesty. One unveiling attendee called it “a desecration of sacred ground.”
I wrote about that desecration here: “Fort Lauderdale Honors Swimming’s Greatest Fraud.” Here’s the main reason the City needs to cut that thing down ASAP:
Seems like this should have been mentioned in the story, for balance.
https://www.openwaterswimming.com/wowsa-advisory-boards-decision-on-diana-nyads-2013-cuba-to-florida-swim/
I was expecting there to be some mention of the controversy in this article.
The real endurance accomplishment is us having to endure her for all these years. Where’s our plaque?
I have to bite my tongue to avoid sounding like the Grinch every time she pops up in the mainstream news and my swim parents ask me about her. I’m amazed I haven’t chewed it off at this point.
What a joke