Diana Nyad cleared by U.S. to go

What did you do today that challenged your comfort zone? (Me, nothing.) KCRW sports columnist Diana Nyad is getting ready to swim from Cuba to Florida, a feat she couldn't complete when she was 28 and the best in the world at such extreme swims. Now she's 60 and will get in the water soon, weather and bureaucracy permitting. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton greased the approval of the U.S. last week; Cuba's visas are pending but expected. The LAT's Bill Dwyre talked to Nyad for a story this morning:

At 60, she saw it as unfinished business.

Now, weather permitting, she will wade into the water in Havana in the next few weeks. She has the team and equipment in place, which is no small undertaking and no small expense. She has to house and feed boat captains, kayak paddlers, trainers, medical personnel and more until the weather is perfect.

"I'm looking for two or three days of doldrums, where the ocean is so flat you can put your breakfast plate down on it," she says.

That's exactly the weather she had July 10, when she did a successful 24-hour training swim in Florida.

There was one small hitch: At dusk, a shark surfaced close by....

She will be swimming without a shark cage, but her team will trail a box emitting something that supposedly will keep the sharks away. While she's in training, Nyad's Thursday slot on KCRW carries updates from her and program director Matt Holzman. There's also a page following the whole effort. Here's the AARP's take on Nyad's swim.

Previously on LA Observed:
Diana Nyad going back to sea at 60

Photo: Karen Christensen