Swimmer should be commended, not accused of cheating

If you start in Olean and drive 103 miles due north, you’ll drive through Buffalo. Then you’ll drive through Niagara Falls. Then you’ll drive right on out of America and into Canada. That’s how far 103 miles will take you.

103 miles was Diana Nyad’s commute on the final day of August. She swam from Havana, Cuba to Key West, Fla. without a shark cage. She is the first confirmed person to do so.

Now, 13 days post-swim, skeptics have emerged from the woodwork asking for proof of her accomplishment. The endurance-swimming website marathonswimmers.org has a link aptly titled “Diana Nyad Discussion” which will send you to a forum where questions of exactly what she did exist.

“I don’t think a little skepticism about the current swim is unfair or mean, given the dubious circumstances and reporting of her previous swims,” forum poster Bruck wrote. “Assuming she finishes, I hope she and her team will make completely clear what, exactly, has been accomplished. How does she account for the unusually fast progress she made, seemingly far in excess of her personal swim speed? Then the marathon swimming community can evaluate the claims and the evidence, and decide whether we believe her.”

What Nyad accomplished is not only a testament to the capability of the human body, but a perfect demonstration of what someone with motivation, dedication and spirit can achieve.

Nyad was followed by spotters for the entirety of her trip. Janet Hinkle, one of the observers, said her job is to make sure Nyad follows the rules associated with competitive open-water swimming.

“As an ‘official’ observer, it’s my job, along with co-observer Roger McVeigh (another spotter), to make sure Diana obeys rules associated with this competitive swim,” Hinkle’s page on Nyad’s official website said. “Her handlers can feed her, rub chafing cream on her shoulders, apply sunscreen to her lips and make sure she has enough water to stay hydrated. What is strictly taboo is giving her any assistance with making progress on the swim — hanging on boats, etc. It’s a rule that everyone takes seriously — Diana in particular.”

According to the Associated Press, a spokesperson for Nyad said she is committed to complete transparency on the issue.

Asking for more proof of her accomplishment is overkill. If her spotters were with her the entire way and they confirmed she completed the trip while following the proper rules, then no more should be asked of her.

Open-water swimmers should be supportive of Nyad for bringing some much-needed attention to their sport. Honestly, I never even knew it was a sport before Nyad completed her swim.

Swimming of any kind only gains significant attention for two weeks every four years, and for supporters and fellow athletes to question her doesn’t say much for the sport.

What Nyad accomplished is a feat that I’m sure many 20-something-year-olds couldn’t do. I know I couldn’t. Hell, I can barely sit down all the way for a trip to Canada.