Nyad Proves One is Never Too Old To Chase a Dream

Athletes are known for their physical prowess and amazing tenacity for never giving up no matter what age proving that you are never to old to chase your dreams.  At the age of 60, world-class athlete Diana Nyad, three decades after giving up marathon swimming in exchange for a prominent career as a sports journalist, becomes obsessed with completing an epic swim that always eluded her – the 100 mile swim from Cuba to Florida(considered to be the “Mount Everest” of swims).

Nyad ultimately goes a four year journey with best friend and coach Bonnie Stoll becoming the first person to finish the swim without a shark cage.  This amazing woman got stung by every variation of jellyfish one could possibly think of, alienated most of her team, yet was extremely vigilant about embracing new and inventive ways to embark upon her journey and nearly died for the sake of never giving up on her life-long dream.

Remarkably executed and portrayed by four-time Academy Award nominee Annette Bening in the title role, she makes witnessing Nyad’s struggles and triumphs personally and professionally riveting.  Right by her side, is two-time Academy Award winner Jodie Fisher, whose portrayal of Bonnie is layered, full of understated resilience within the same spirit of strength Nyad has embodied her entire life and career.

Based on Diana Nyad’s book “Find Your Way” and directed by award-winning documentary filmmakers Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi and Jimmy Chin and beautifully shot the amazing cinematographer Claudio Miranda, Nyad tells the tale of one human being who refused to be defined by others expectations and leaning into the literal meaning of her name “water nymph.”  After 52 hours, 200,000 strokes, five attempts and 35 years, Diana Nyad showed the world a life well lived like a diamond which is just a lump of coal that stuck with it, illustrating that women are more than just the sum of their parts.