WOWSA Advisory Board’s Decision on Diana Nyad’s 2013 Cuba to Florida Swim

World Open Water Swimming Association Advisory Board’s Decision on Diana Nyad’s 2013 Cuba to Florida Swim Official Statement on the Denial of Ratification for Diana Nyad’s Swim

San Francisco, CA (WOWSA) September 11, 2023 – In August 2013, Diana Nyad undertook her 5th attempt to swim from Cuba to Florida. This endeavor took place after similar Cuba-to-Florida crossings by Walter Poenisch (utilizing a shark cage, with snorkel and fins) and Susan Maroney (utilizing a shark cage, without snorkel and fins).

Following the Diana Nyad crossing, a number of controversies related to the swim were raised and shared publicly by experienced open water swimmers. Some of the controversies can be summarized as follows:

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