A Closer Look at the Polarizing, Real-Life Inspiration for Netflix’s ‘Nyad’
From the celebrities list, Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi and Jimmy Chin, with Nyad, their debut narrative docu-feature, tell the story of controversial and well-known swimmer Diana Nyad and her iconic 110-mile swim from Cuba to Florida at 64 years of age.
However, the swim is riddled with controversies and murky details, with even the World Open Water Swimming Association (WOWSA) not ready to certify it since it was completed in 2013.
WOWSA even started a new investigation to look into the swim days after Vasarhelyi and Chin premiered Nyad at the Telluride Film Festival. However, even after this renewed investigation, it declined to certify it.
“This decision comes in light of the recent media attention due to the film adaptation of Diana Nyad’s memoir and the subsequent inquiries about the swim’s official ratification,” WOWSA stated to Vanity Fair.
Although Nyad is one of the most famous celebrities and a gifted swimmer, her credentials and claims have been constantly questioned by onlookers and fellow swimmers for decades, making her a polarizing figure in the American swimming world.
Some say she has misinterpreted the details about her accomplishments and life, while others say she is great at exaggerating them. All in all, Nyad—the person and the feature—seems to be embroiled in controversy.
Who is Diana Nyad?
Diana Nyad is a world-renowned long-distance swimmer and author best known for her record-breaking 2013 swim from Havana, Cuba, to Key West, Florida. Born on August 22, 1949, Nyad was in her early 60s when she completed the approximately 110-mile swim through the Florida Strait without the protection of a shark cage.
Her fifth attempt at the crossing demonstrated her extraordinary determination and resilience. Her successful swim was hailed as a monumental achievement in open-water swimming.
Nyad’s swimming career is notable not just for her Cuba-to-Florida swim but also for her achievements in the 1970s, including a record-setting swim around Manhattan (New York City) in 1975 and a swim from the Bahamas to Florida in 1979.
Beyond her swimming exploits, Diana Nyad has worked as a sports broadcaster, journalist, and motivational speaker. She has also authored several books, sharing her life experiences and the lessons she has learned from her extreme endurance challenge.
A Veil Of Skepticism Over Nyad’s Florida To Cuba Swim
Diana Nyad’s iconic 110-mile swim was marred with controversies from the time she completed it and stepped onto the Florida beach in September 2013. Prominent people including swimmers who are a part of the swimming community questioned Nyad’s feat due to her past record of being dishonest about her life and feats.
However, despite the skepticism, she maintained that she was the first person to complete that monumental swim from Cuba to Florida. However, even in this claim, there was a dent. According to the Defector, the first person to swim that route was not Nyad but an Ohio native named Walter Poenisch, who completed it in 1978 at the age of 64.
Despite such a monumental win, Poenisch received very little media attention for his feat. In fact, Nyad publicly criticized Poenisch for even attempting the swim back in the day.
Although the media praised Nyad for completing the Cuba-to-Florida swim, she could not escape the controversies. Rigorous guidelines were established to define the validity of the achievement, yet doubts about the details of her swim arose quickly. According to Defector, GPS data purportedly showed her swimming speed increased from 1.5 miles per hour to 3.9 miles per hour over several hours, raising questions about potential external support.
To add to her woes, Nyad did not have cameras on her throughout her swim, which lasted almost 53 hours. One of the critiques, Evan Morrison, the founder of marathonswimmers.org, was quoted saying that if he were the one doing the swim that no one had attempted before, he would definitely have a camera on him continuously to dispel doubts. He also questioned the possibility of external help.
Diana a Controversial Figure Despite Her Wins And Feats
Nyad expressed hope that her integrity wasn’t questioned as she navigated the wave of scrutiny following her swim. Yet, the damage to her credibility seemed irreversible. Her induction into the International Swimmers Hall of Fame is still pending.
Despite the controversy, Diana Nyad’s story continues to captivate, with even those closely associated with Netflix’s ‘Nyad’ hesitating to assert the complete accuracy of the events depicted. In the meantime from the celebrities list, Annette Bening and Jodie Foster have been nominated for Oscars for their performances in the movie.
