NEW YORK: US long-distance swimmer Diana Nyad on Tuesday vigorously defended her record-breaking, 177km swim from Cuba to southern Florida after sceptics raised questions about the gruelling trek.
“I swam ... in squeaky-clean, ethical fashion,” Nyad said in a conference call late Tuesday that included journalists and fellow marathon swimmers, some of whom have publicly questioned aspects of her exhausting journey.
“I honoured the rules,” Nyad said at the start of the conference call. “I was an ethical swimmer.” A triumphant Nyad, 64, staggered ashore in Key West, Florida on September 2, after having swum about 53 hours, to become the first person to complete the treacherous crossing without a shark cage.
The highly publicised crossing has sparked a social media debate about whether her journey meets the requirements to break the world record.
Some have questioned how Nyad was able to more than double her pace about halfway to Florida, and have wondered whether she was towed at any points by tracking boats. AFP
